Cataracts
Clouding of the eye's natural lens, causing gradual vision loss.
Symptoms
Common signs to watch for.
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Colours appear faded or yellowed
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Halos around lights, especially at night
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
- Double vision in one eye
Home Care Tips
Things you can do at home to relieve symptoms.
- Use brighter lighting at home and work
- Wear anti-glare sunglasses outdoors
- Use magnifying lenses for reading
- Ensure glasses are up to date
- Avoid night driving if glare is severe
When to Seek Professional Help
Contact us immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Vision interferes with daily activities like reading or driving
- You experience sudden vision changes
- You see flashes of light or new floaters
- Vision loss happens rapidly rather than gradually
- You have pain or redness in the eye
About Cataracts
Understanding Cataracts
A cataract is the progressive clouding or opacification of the eye's natural crystalline lens, which sits directly behind the iris and pupil. In a healthy eye, this lens is transparent and flexes to focus light sharply onto the retina. With age, natural metabolic changes cause proteins within the lens (crystallins) to break down, clump together, and form cloudy clusters that scatter and obstruct light.
Cataracts usually develop slowly and painlessly over several years in one or both eyes. In the early stages, stronger lighting and updated eyeglass prescriptions can help maintain visual clarity. However, as the cataract matures, vision becomes increasingly dim, hazy, or yellowish, making driving, reading, and recognizing faces challenging.
Common Types and Causes of Cataracts
- Age-related (nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular opacification)
- Secondary to medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation without eye protection
- Long-term use of oral, inhaled, or topical corticosteroid medications
- Previous intraocular trauma or prior intraocular surgery
Sources & Medical References
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