Inside your eye is a clear, flexible lens that sits behind your pupil and iris. As you get older, this lens can develop a cloudiness known as a cataract.
Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend’s face.
While both eyes may have cataracts, it is usual for one to be more progressed than the other.
Most cataracts develop as part of the ageing process.
Other risk factors include:
In the early stages, a cataract may not cause noticeable vision loss because it only affects a small part of the eye’s lens.
As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms such as:
Without treatment, cataracts will continue to become cloudier and you may eventually go blind.
Cataracts are treated through surgery. This aims to restore clear vision by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens.
There are a number of different types of artificial lenses that can be used – you and your surgeon will discuss the best lens for your eyes and lifestyle.
The procedure takes place in an operating theatre in a hospital. It’s a day procedure, meaning you don’t need to stay in hospital overnight.
Cataract surgery successfully restores vision in the majority of patients. Your vision should be noticeably clearer within 3-6 weeks after surgery.
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Horizon Surgical Eye Centre can consult with you to confirm if this treatment is right for you.
What is cataract?A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye – a bit like looking through a fogged-up window. Cataracts are treated by surgery to remove the affected lens and replace it with a clear, artificial one.
Inside your eye is a clear, flexible lens that sits behind your pupil and iris. As you get older, this lens can develop a cloudiness known as a cataract.
Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend’s face.
While both eyes may have cataracts, it is usual for one to be more progressed than the other.
Who is at risk of cataracts?Most cataracts develop as part of the ageing process.
Other risk factors include:
In the early stages, a cataract may not cause noticeable vision loss because it only affects a small part of the eye’s lens.
As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms such as:
Without treatment, cataracts will continue to become cloudier and you may eventually go blind.
Cataracts are treated through surgery. This aims to restore clear vision by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens.
There are a number of different types of artificial lenses that can be used – you and your surgeon will discuss the best lens for your eyes and lifestyle.
The procedure takes place in an operating theatre in a hospital. It’s a day procedure, meaning you don’t need to stay in hospital overnight.
Cataract surgery successfully restores vision in the majority of patients. Your vision should be noticeably clearer within 3-6 weeks after surgery.
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Horizon Surgical Eye Centre can consult with you to confirm if this treatment is right for you.
