Cataracts are as common as wrinkles. The following information is a great summary from "Good Vision for Life"
What is a cataract? What are my intraocular lens options? How can I slow down my cataracts or prevent them from forming?
When the normally clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, this is known as a cataract. Having a cataract is like looking through a dirty window and is a leading cause of vision impairment. While most cataracts are found in people aged over 50, cataracts can also occur at younger ages.
Cataracts can be treated with surgery but they also account for a huge amount of vision loss around the world.
WHAT ARE CATARACTS?
A cataract is what happens when the transparent lens you were born with starts to coagulate and turn cloudy. Your lens sits right behind your pupil and its role is to bend the light to reach your retina so that you can see clearly. For your lens to do its job properly it has to be transparent otherwise the light won't reach your retina and you won't be able to see that well, if at all.
When you have a cataract, your eye's lens becomes too stiff, starts to coagulate and become cloudy. It's like the way an egg white starts off transparent but as you cook it, it becomes milky white. This is called oxidative stress or protein denaturalisation – which is a bit like you’re looking through a dirty car windscreen that you can’t quite wipe clean.
If your world is starting to look a bit cloudy, or you are increasingly more glare sensitive, it is important to have a comprehensive eye examination with an optometrist. If cataract is detected, your optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor specialising in the eyes and eye surgery, for further examination and treatment.
CATARACTS XPLAINED:
Visit this website for a simple explanation on cataracts and options for intraocular implants for your cataract surgery.
HOW TO PREVENT OR SLOW DOWN CATARACTS?
There are many reasons why cataracts form, but the most common are age and UV light. This is why proper sun protection for your eyes and maintaining good general health are great ways at slowing down cataract formation.
Ideal sunglass features: WRAP: Flat sunglass frames do not provide the same protection as wrap frames as it does not protect the eyes from light that enters from above and the side.
BACK SURFACE ANTIREFLECTIVE COATING: This blocks reflected light from entering the eye.
QUALITY LENSES: UV400 rated lenses
TIPS TO OPTIMISE YOUR CATARACT SURGERY OUTCOME
Stop contact lens wear 1 month prior to measurements for cataract surgery
Stop eye makeup use 1 month prior to measurements for cataract surgery
Treat dry eye (even if you have no symptoms, but your optometrist detects it) prior to cataract surgery
Discuss your options for intraocular lens implants with your optometrist, whether it be single vision, monovision, mini-monovision, extended depth of focus (EDOF), EDOF + monovision, multifocal
Be aware that dry eye and glare will be experienced post-surgically, but these will improve over time, and there may be some treatment options
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