Don’t let cataracts cloud your vision

Post on 9th February 2021

Sometimes it’s not enough to give your specs a good cleaning, that clouded vision may be due to an issue with your eyes.

Cataracts are the main cause of impaired vision and are more likely to develop as we get older. An estimated one in three people over the age of 65 have this common condition.

Cataracts occur when cloudy patches develop in the clear lens inside your eye, stopping light from reaching the back of the eye, and causing blurred or misty vision. They usually appear in both eyes and can be diagnosed in a routine eye test, which is normally recommended every two years.

Symptoms vary from person to person and can include:

– Blurred vision
– Gradual loss of colour vision – objects appear duller
– Difficulty reading
– Poor vision in low light situations
– Frequent changes of prescription glasses
– Increased sensitivity to bright lights
– Double vision, even with only one eye open

Cataracts are not usually painful and do not make your eyes red or irritated.

Some people are more likely to suffer from cataracts if they have a family history of cataracts. Other risk factors include smoking, diabetes, an eye injury, long-term use of steroids and drinking too much alcohol.

If your optician thinks you have cataracts, you may be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for more tests and treatment.

Cataracts can be treated by a routine operation which is carried out as an outpatient procedure to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a synthetic one.

If you are worried you may have a cataract, or have concerns about your vision, you can seek help at a local Scrivens branch.