CATARACTS
Overview
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A cataract develops when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. This is normally a gradual process that often happens as we get older. It does not hurt. The early stages of a cataract do not necessarily affect your sight. The only proven treatment for a cataract is surgery. If the cataract gets to the stage where it affects your sight, we will will refer you to hospital to have this done. The surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic and is very safe. Once you have had the cataract removed, it will not return.

Why does cataract occur?
The main cause is age. However, smoking, poor diet and exposure to sunlight have been linked to cataracts. Younger people can develop cataracts if they have an injury to the eye. Some medical conditions including diabetes or taking some sorts of medication may also cause cataracts. A very small number of babies are born with a cataract.

Will cataract affect my vision?
Many people with a cataract notice that they need the prescription for their glasses changing. If you are long-sighted, you may even notice that you need your glasses less than you did before you had the cataract! You may notice that your vision is less clear and distinct. Car headlights and streetlights can become dazzling. You may experience difficulties moving from shade to sunlit areas. Colours may look different too and become faded or yellowed. If you experience any of these symptoms, please telephone 0191 5208059 to make an appointment.

Can I prevent cataracts?
There are various supplements on the market which claim to help slow the progression of cataracts and some eye drops have been marketed as a treatment for them. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that any of these can prevent or treat cataracts. The best advice to try to prevent cataracts, or to stop them getting worse, is to stop smoking and to wear good-quality sunglasses with full UV protection.

Treating cataracts
If your cataract is affecting your day-to-day life (for example, driving, reading or cooking), and we cannot improve this enough by changing your spectacles, we would refer you to an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor) for surgery. This involves removing the cloudy lens (the cataract) and replacing it with a clear plastic one.

What does cataract surgery involve?
You will have an initial appointment where the eye specialist will assess and measure your eyes. Most cataract operations are done using a local anaesthetic. You will be awake, but the anaesthetist will make sure you do not feel the area around your eye. You will hear the eye specialist explaining what they are doing, and may see some vague movements around the eye. The specialist makes a tiny cut in the eye to remove the cataract, and will, in most cases, insert a plastic replacement lens so that you can see clearly. This will usually take around 15 to 20 minutes, although it can take longer. You will not normally need stitches, but your eye will be covered to protect it from knocks for a few days after the operation. You will be allowed to go home the same day, but should have someone to go with you. Do not drive.

After the operation
The ophthalmologist will give you eye drops to use for the first few weeks after your operation. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise immediately after the operation, but carry on with most other activities round the home as normal. Avoid eye make-up and try not to get soapy water in your eyes when you wash your hair. If you go out on a windy day, you may feel safer with sunglasses to prevent grit getting in your eye. Ask your specialist about when you can go back to work.
If you have any concerns, give the eye clinic a call for advice.

Will I need new spectacles after my cataract operation?
Your eyesight will settle down in a few days or weeks. You will probably find that your glasses will need changing after the operation, so you will need to see your optometrist again for an eye examination a few weeks after the surgery. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to advise you as to when you can start driving again.
You may find that it takes a few weeks to adapt to your vision with new glasses after cataract surgery. This is normal, and is due to your brain adapting to a different prescription.

Will the cataract come back?
After some months or years, a few people notice that their vision becomes cloudy or misty
again in the eye where the cataract has been removed. This is not the cataract returning, but is due to the sac which contains the replacement lens clouding up. This cloudiness can be removed by painless laser treatment in a matter of minutes. Contact us if you are worried that this is happening to you.

Do cataracts only occur in one eye?
If you have had a cataract removed from one eye, it is likely that you will need the same treatment for the other eye at some point in the future.

If you have any concerns or queries, please telephone 0191 5208059 to make an appointment at RJ Naisbitt Optometry in South Hetton, Durham.