Having a clear eyesight and vision will allow us to connect with our surroundings, keep us from harm as well as enable us to live our life to the fullest. For that to happen, you should care for your eyes.
Unfortunately, one of the most common vision changes that occur as you grow older is cataract. Nonetheless, with proper eye care these changes can be prevented and grant you the ability to enjoy the quality of life you desire.
To help you have the life you desire along with proper vision, we approached Consultant Ophthalmologist, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon from Vista Eye Specialist, Dr. Mandy Cheong, to share what cataract is and debunk some common myths in regards to cataract.
1Twenty80: What is a cataract and how does it develop?
Dr. Mandy Cheong: Cataract is the clouding of our natural crystalline lens that focuses light entering the eye onto the retina. To put it in simple terms, a cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. Cataract often develops slowly and painlessly, so vision and lifestyle can be affected silently without even realising it.
1Twenty80: What can worsen cataract?
Dr. Mandy: Primarily, most of the time cataract is age-related and progresses slowly as you begin to age. This condition cannot be treated with eye drops or oral medications. However, there are different types of cataract that occur under different circumstances. For instance:
- Patients who are on steroid use in any form for a prolonged period can develop steroid-induced cataract.
- Patients can also develop secondary cataract due to trauma, prolonged steroid use or metabolic disease.
- Metabolic cataracts occur in patients with uncontrolled health conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, Galactosaemia, Wilson Disease and Myotonic dystrophy. A traumatic cataract results from either blunt or penetrating injuries as well as chemical burns, radiation and electrocution.
- Apart from that, patients with a history of smoking or exposed to excessive ultraviolet light are a candidate for developing early cataract.
- Congenital cataract appears in newborns or infants who are exposed to Intrauterine infection (an infection within the womb) or who have underlying systemic disease.
- Developmental cataract occurs in children or adolescents who have familial inheritance or who are exposed to certain disease insults.
Note: Metabolic Disease
Metabolic diseases are disorders that occur when the metabolism process fails and causes the body to have either too many or too little essential substances that you need in order to stay healthy.
1Twenty80: What are the symptoms of cataract?
Dr. Mandy: At first, you might not have any symptoms. However, as cataract develops it can cause some noticeable changes in your vision. For example, you may notice:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Poor vision at night
- Loss of contrast sensitivity
- Glares and halos around lights
- Difficulty reading under dim light
- Loss the ability to discern colours or having trouble seeing in the presence of bright lights.
- Frequent changes in the prescription of glasses and occasionally a new ability to read without reading glasses among patients above 55.
1Twenty80: Can you prevent the progression of cataract?
Dr. Mandy: We cannot prevent cataract from worsening as it is related to ageing. However, it is possible to slow down the progression. It is recommended that patients have a balanced diet, reduce exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation by using good quality UV blocking sunglasses, avoiding injuries by using protective eyewear and closely monitor blood sugar levels if patients have diabetes.
1Twenty80: Can you reverse cataract without surgery?
Dr. Mandy: There is no medical treatment to prevent the development or progression of cataract. The definitive treatment for cataract is to undergo surgery. The surgery is done to remove the cloudy lens and implant a clear intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery has been performed widely and is known as a non-invasive procedure. Now, with the advancement of technology, surgeons use femtosecond laser technology to replace many steps, resulting in a great level of precision, safety and results for patients. Patients can also opt for multifocal IOLs and achieve great vision without the need for reading glasses.
1Twenty80: Is there a possibility for cataract to reoccur after one has received treatment?
Dr. Mandy: Patients who have cataract removal surgery done can develop secondary cataract which is also known as Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), later in their life. The occurrence rate is 10 percent and it is due to opacification of the capsular bag where the Intraocular lens is in. This can be easily be treated with laser opening of the posterior part of the capsular bag.
Dr. Mandy Debunks Cataract Myths
Myth #1: Cataracts only affect the elderly.
FALSE. Cataract can develop in any group of patients, especially those who are at risk.
Myth #2: My eyes don’t hurt, so there is no way that I have cataracts.
FALSE. Cataract will not cause pain unless it has reached a stage where the lens is hypermature causing a rise of Intraocular pressure (the fluid pressure inside the eye) and glaucoma (an eye condition that damages the optic nerve).
Myth#3: Cataract surgery is dangerous and time-consuming.
FALSE. Cataract surgery is the most effective and most common surgery in all of medicine. It has a success rate of 97 percent or higher when performed in appropriate settings. It can be performed in a rather short duration in proper settings as well.
Myth #4: If I take care of my eyes, I won’t get cataracts.
FALSE. Cataract will still develop relentlessly as it is related to ageing. However, with proper care it somehow slows down the progression of cataracts.
Myth #5: Cataract can be mistaken for something else.
FALSE. Patients with cataract often get confused with pterygium which is a fleshy growth covering the cornea. Cataract can also happen concurrently in patients who have some other ocular diseases like uveitis or who have other prior ocular surgery. Careful examination must be performed to rule out other disease entities.
