Ageing is inevitable and can be synonymous with deteriorating health. A cataract is one of those age-related illnesses, however, early detection and awareness can reduce the risk of vision loss.
A cataract is a clouding of the normally transparent lens of the eye and is usually a consequence of getting older. Most age-related cataracts develop slowly so you may not notice any problems with your vision until the cataract is fairly advanced.
“It is important to know the early signs and symptoms of cataracts which often cause a slow and steady decline in vision,“ Dr Kris Rallah-Baker said, from Sunshine Coast Ophthalmologists at Noosa.
Cataract symptoms to look out for:
Cataracts can affect your vision in several ways and often these other symptoms are noticeable before blurred vision.
1. Glare sensitivity
Usually, the lens focuses light on the back of your eye (the retina) very precisely. When the lens becomes cloudy, it scatters some of the light in different directions. This scattered light creates glare and sensitivity to bright lights.
2. Faded colours
As the cataract forms, the lens becomes more yellow. This acts like a yellow filter. Because of this, the vibrancy and brightness of colours is diminished and results in colours that look faded with a yellow/sepia tinge.
3. Double vision
In the same way that a cloudy lens causes glare sensitivity, it may also result in double vision. The cloudy lens may split incoming light in two, instead of focusing it at a single point.
4. Halos around lights and night vision problems
When light scatters, it may also produce a glow or starbursts around lights or bright objects which is more obvious at night.
5. Constantly cleaning your glasses or windscreen
As the cataract forms it creates a barrier to the amount of light passing to the retina. The lens in your eye can take on the appearance of frosted glass so you feel like you need to constantly wipe your glasses to clear away this “film”.
6. Blurred vision
Blurred vision is often one of the last signs of a cataract.
The changes in your lens increase over time with the lens becoming increasingly cloudy and brown-yellow and eventually causing a reduction in your visual acuity.
Initially you may end up with a new or changing prescription in your glasses after potentially many years of stability.
Eventually new glasses will not improve your vision. It is usually at this stage you may be referred to an ophthalmologist for possible cataract surgery.
For further information, visit the Sunshine Coast Ophthalmologists of Noosa website sconoosa.com.au or phone (07) 5470 2400.
