Cataract

A cataract, also known as a ‘grey cataract’, is a clouding of the natural lens in your eye. The lens is situated behind the pupil and normally ensures that light is focused sharply onto the retina. With a cataract, the lens becomes cloudy, which means light does not pass through as well and your vision gradually becomes blurred, dull or less sharp.

The condition usually develops slowly and mainly affects people over the age of sixty. It is a natural ageing process of the lens, in which proteins in the lens clump together and its transparency decreases. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes, but do not spread from one eye to the other.

How do cataracts develop?

The lens of your eye consists largely of water and proteins arranged in a specific way to keep the lens clear. Over the years, these proteins can start to clump together, causing cloudy patches to form. This process is usually gradual and can take years before it noticeably affects your vision.

As well as ageing, other factors can also play a role in the development of cataracts, such as prolonged exposure to UV light, smoking, diabetes, certain medicines such as corticosteroids, eye injuries or inflammation. Cataracts can sometimes occur in younger people or even be present from birth, but this is less common.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

The first signs of cataracts are often subtle. You may notice that your vision is gradually becoming more blurred, as if you were looking through a misted-up window. Colours may appear duller and you may be more bothered by glare from bright lights, particularly in the evening from oncoming traffic or streetlights. You may also need to have your glasses adjusted more often as your prescription changes.

Other common symptoms include double vision in one eye, a yellowish or brownish tinge to vision, and difficulty reading or driving in the dark. In advanced cataracts, the pupil may appear greyish or milky rather than black.

When should you see an optician?

If you notice that your vision is gradually deteriorating, colours seem less vivid or you are more bothered by glare, it is advisable to make an appointment with your optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can assess whether you have a cataract and how far the clouding has progressed.

An eye examination using a slit lamp allows the lens to be examined closely and the degree of clouding to be determined. Based on this, it can be discussed whether and when further action is required.

What happens in cases of advanced cataracts?

A cataract is a progressive condition, which means that the clouding can worsen over time. In the early stages, it often has little impact on your daily life, and a new pair of glasses or better lighting may be sufficient. However, as the cataract progresses, your vision may become so impaired that it starts to interfere with your daily activities.

In such cases, an ophthalmologist may recommend cataract surgery, in which the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens. This is a common procedure carried out by an ophthalmologist. The decision to undergo surgery depends on the extent to which the cataract affects your vision and quality of life, and is always made in consultation with the ophthalmologist.

Cataracts and contact lenses

In the early stages of cataracts, you can often continue to wear contact lenses as normal, provided your eyes are healthy and the lenses are comfortable. Adjusting the prescription can sometimes help to temporarily improve your vision. It is, however, important to have regular check-ups so that any changes in your eyes are detected in good time.

If you have any concerns or are unsure whether your contact lenses are still suitable for your situation, please have them assessed by your optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist.