cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the part of your eye called the lens. This is a very common condition as we get older, and can occur in one or both eyes. Cataracts are usually painless, but they lead to a gradual worsening of your sight.

Symptoms often include

  • Things appearing blurred round the edges
  • Seeing double
  • Poor vision in bright light
  • Change of colour vision
  • As the condition worsens, your vision typically gets more clouded and becomes like looking through a frosted window.

We strongly recommend that you have your eyes tested every two years. Cataracts are sometimes diagnosed during a routine eye test, even if you are aware of no symptoms.

 

Treatment

The recommended treatment for cataracts is generally surgical removal of the cloudy lens and replacement with a new plastic lens. This is a routine operation nowadays, and is normally carried out under local anaesthetic.