About Cataract
A cataract is a cloudy area in the eye’s lens responsible for decreased visual acuity. More than half of all people age 65 and older have a cataract. Cataracts are not a disease, it is a normal part of ageing; they usually develop over time and don’t have to be removed immediately.
In the early stages, stronger lighting or a change in your glasses prescription may help. At a certain point, however, surgery may be needed to improve vision.
Symptoms
Common cataract symptoms include poor night vision, a bothersome glare produced by bright lights, a blurring of vision and a fading or yellowing of colors.
As this develops slowly over a period of years, it might not be immediately noticeable. However, eventually, vision becomes a little blurred, like looking through a smudgy piece of glass.
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery has been one of the greatest beneficiaries from advances in technology and has made extraordinary and exciting advances over the past few years.
Cataract surgery is now a very safe and very effective procedure. It is performed in an outpatient setting and has a recovery time of around one week. Many people enjoy improved vision with minimal dependence upon corrective eyewear.
Cataract surgery today is performed using microscopic size incisions, advanced ultrasonic equipment to fragment cataracts into tiny fragments, and foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) to maintain small incision size.
