Inside the eye, there is a clear and flexible lens that sits behind your pupil and iris. A cataract is when this lens becomes cloudy with age.
A cataract is not a film or growth over the eye, this is a common misconception.
Without treatment, cataracts will continue to become cloudier over time, and may eventually cause blindness. While both eyes may have cataracts, it is normal for one eye to be more progressed than the other.
The good news is that there is effective surgical treatment that can help restore clear eyesight.
Symptoms of Cataracts
In the early stages of a cataract forming your vision may be only minimally affected, and you may not even be aware that you have cataracts until you have an eye test.
As cataracts develop, you may become aware of the following symptoms:
- • Cloudy, foggy, or frosty vision
- • Double vision in one eye
- • Increased sensitivity to bright light and glare
- • Difficulty driving, especially at night
- • Trouble reading and recognising faces
- • Colours appear dull and faded
- • Seeing halos around light sources
- • Updating your glasses no longer provides you with clearer vision
What Causes Cataracts
Cataracts are a normal part of the ageing process and generally appear in people who are over the age of 60.
Other factors that can cause a cataract or accelerate its growth include:
- • Smoking
- • Excessive exposure to UV and other types of radiation
- • Use of certain medications (e.g., Corticosteroids)
- • Previous blunt/penetrating ocular trauma, surgery, or disease
- • Systemic disease (e.g., Diabetes and other metabolic disorders)
- • Genetics and congenital disorders
How are Cataracts Treated?
The only effective treatment is cataract surgery which involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss the different lens designs available, and which IOL is recommended for you considering your lifestyle, the unique features of your eyes and your visual requirements.
Cataract Surgery on the Gold Coast
Our specialists are available at three convenient clinic locations across the Gold Coast, fully equipped for the diagnosis, treatment and management of all eye-related conditions.