Clear as mud

CATARACTS are caused by the clouding of the lens in the eye and the condition is one of the leading causes of vision impairment in Australia.

Vision Australia spokesperson Marion Rivers told SuperLiving we could get cataracts at any stage of our life but it was most common in people who are older.

“Symptoms include blurred vision, glare sensitivity, distortion or double vision and a feeling of looking through a veil or a curtain,” Rivers said.

People who are at risk of cataracts are those with a family history of eye conditions, diabetes, individuals who have had an injury to the eye, people who have exposed their eyes to sunlight without protection over a long period of time and smokers.

There are claims people who eat a lot of meat are at a higher risk of developing cataracts. These studies are inconclusive and healthcare professionals recommend we maintain a healthy balanced diet.

Procedures to remove cataracts have developed over time.

“These days it is a pretty straightforward operation to remove the old lens and get a new intraocular lens put in place of the old one,” she said.

“The surgery and procedure has improved a great deal. I’ve been an orthoptist for a very long time and when I was training, people who went in to get a cataract removed had major surgery. They would have to lie on their back for about 10 days and there was no replacement lens.

“These days, it is a simple day procedure and it is not even done over general anaesthetic.”

A small incision is made into the eye, then the surgeon will either remove the lens as it is or use ultrasounds, which is a laser surgical solution to break it up and remove it. The back membrane of the lens is left in place, with the replacement lens inserted.

“Usually people just have one stitch or very few in their eye, they still need to take some precautions for a few days.”

Sometimes doctors will suggest we wait before getting a cataract removed. But why? If it’s there, should it just be removed before it gets worse?

All About Vision said cataracts usually start very small and are practically unnoticeable but grow gradually larger and cloudier. It said doctors usually wait until the cataract interferes with your vision, as sometimes the cataract does not reach a stage where it would need to be removed.
  
Rivers said these days, the cataract procedure was so successful, there was not really a need for agencies like Vision Australia. However, for different health reasons, some individuals might not be able to have the surgery.

“These people are going to suffer and they will need our assistance,” she said.

“It is sometimes discovered that once a person has a cataract removed, there appeared to be another underlying eye condition [macular degeneration] that could only be diagnosed once we remove the cataract.”

Low vision and macular degeneration cases were becoming more common, Rivers said. By 2020, about 600,000 Australians are expected to suffer some form of blindness or low vision, due to the increasing number of people suffering macular degeneration. 

Our eyesight is important, as we need it to do everyday tasks. This is why Rivers says if we are over the age of 50-years-old, it is recommended we get our eyes tested at least once every two years.

“If you start noticing changes in your vision, it is all the more reason to get your eyes tested. Pay your local eye care practitioner or doctor a visit to find out if there are any problems with your vision.”