Cataracts: Restoring Clarity
A Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which sits behind the iris and pupil. The lens is normally clear and works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina. When it becomes cloudy, it scatters light, resulting in blurry vision, sensitivity to sunlight and and other visual disturbances.
Cataracts are most commonly associated with the natural aging process, but they can also be accelerated by factors like diabetes, certain medications, and UV exposure.
Recognising the Symptoms
The visual changes caused by Cataracts develop gradually. You may notice:
- Cloudy, blurry, or dim vision.
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare, especially when driving at night or into afternoon sunlight.
- Fading or yellowing of colours, making them appear dull.
- Frequent changes in spectacle prescription.
- “Second Sight” – a temporary period where near vision improves as the cataract changes the lens’s shape, followed by worsening blur.
Diagnosis and Treatment Pathway
Our optometrists detect Cataracts during your Comprehensive Eye Exam by thoroughly examining the lens of your eye.
- Monitoring: In the early stages, vision may still be functional. We can manage your vision with updated prescription glasses and monitor the cataract’s progression.
- Surgical Referral: When a cataract matures to the point where it significantly affects your daily life (such as driving, reading, or hobbies), we provide a timely referral to an Ophthalmologist for cataract surgery.
- Post-Operative Care: We work alongside the surgeon to provide necessary pre-operative testing and manage your post-operative follow-up care to ensure optimal vision recovery.
Ready to See the World Clearly Again?
If your vision is dull or glare is affecting your activities, schedule an examination.