Cataracts
Cataracts are cloudy patches that develop in the lens of your eye and can cause blurred or misty vision. They are very common.
The lens is the transparent structure that sits just behind your pupil (the black dot in the centre of your eye). It allows light to get to the back of your eye (retina). In some people, cataracts develop in the lens as they get older, stopping some of the light from reaching the back of the eye. Over time, the cataracts become worse and start affecting vision. Many people with cataracts will eventually need surgery to remove and replace the affected lens.
Symptoms of cataracts
Cataracts develop over many years and problems may at first be unnoticeable. They often develop in both eyes, although each eye may be affected differently. You will usually have blurred, cloudy or misty vision, or you may have small spots or patches where your vision is less clear. Cataracts may also affect your sight in the following ways:
When to see your optician
If you have problems with your vision, make an appointment to see your optician (also known as an optometrist). An optician can examine your eyes and test your sight. The optician may look at your eyes with an instrument called a slit lamp or an ophthalmoscope. These magnify your eye and produce a bright light that allows the optician to look inside and check for any cataracts. If it is thought you have cataracts, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist or an ophthalmic surgeon, who can confirm the diagnosis and plan your treatment. These are doctors who specialise in eye conditions and their treatment.
Who is affected?
Cataracts are the main cause of impaired vision worldwide. Although rare types of cataracts affect babies and young children, the problem is much more common in older people. Cataracts that develop with age are known as age-related cataracts. In England and Wales, it is estimated that around 2.5 million people aged 65 or older have some degree of visual impairment caused by cataracts.
What causes age-related cataracts?
The exact cause of age-related cataracts is unknown, although some experts have suggested they may be the result of changes in the structure of the lens over time. It is thought that the cloudy areas in the lens may be the result of changes in the proteins that make up the lens. However, it's not clear how or why getting older could cause these changes to happen. As well as your age, several other factors may increase your risk of developing cataracts, including:
Treating age-related cataracts
If your cataracts are mild, stronger glasses and brighter reading lights may be helpful for some time. However, cataracts get worse over time so it's likely you will eventually need treatment. The only treatment that is proven to be effective for cataracts is surgery. This will usually be recommended if your loss of vision has a significant effect on your daily activities, such as driving or reading.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens through a small incision (cut) in your eye and replacing it with a clear plastic one. In most cases, this will be carried out under local anaesthetic (where you are awake, but the eye is numbed) and you can usually go home the same day. Almost everyone who has cataract surgery experiences an improvement in their vision, although it can sometimes take a few days or weeks for your vision to settle. You can usually return to most of your normal activities within about two weeks.
After the operation, your plastic lens will be set up for a certain level of vision, so you may need to wear glasses in order to see objects that are either far away or close to you. If you wore glasses previously, your prescription will probably change. However, your optometrist will need to wait until your vision has settled before they can give you a new prescription
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is a procedure used to treat cataracts that are affecting your daily activities.
It is the most common operation performed in the UK, with more than 300,000 procedures carried out each year.
What are cataracts?
A cataract is cloudiness of the lens (the normally clear structure in your eye which focuses the light). They can develop in one or both eyes. The cloudiness can become worse over time, causing vision to become increasingly blurry, hazy or cloudy. Most cataracts develop with age, although rarely babies are born with cataracts or children develop them while they are still young.
When is cataract surgery recommended?
Minor cloudiness of the lens is a normal part of ageing. Significant cloudiness, or cataracts, generally get slowly worse over time and surgery to remove them is the only way to restore vision. However, it's not necessary to have surgery if your vision is not significantly affected and you don't have any difficulties carrying out everyday tasks. Cataract surgery is available on the NHS if they are making it difficult to carry out activities such as reading, driving and looking after someone under your care.
The operation
Cataract surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure that normally takes up to 30 to 45 minutes. It is usually carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic which means you are awake during the procedure and you can go home on the same day. During the operation, the surgeon makes a tiny incision (cut) in your eye so they can remove the affected lens. When the lens has been removed, the surgeon inserts a small plastic lens, called an intraocular implant or intraocular lens, in its place. If you have cataracts in both eyes, this procedure will usually be carried out on separate occasions a few weeks apart. This gives the first eye time to heal and time for your vision to return.
Recovery
You will normally be able to go home a few hours after having cataract surgery, although you will need to arrange for someone to collect you and take you home. Take it easy for the first two or three days after the operation and make sure to use any eye drops you are given by the hospital. You can carry on with most of your normal activities after cataract surgery, although you will need to avoid touching your eye or getting anything in it (such as soap and water) for a few weeks.
Results of cataract surgery
Most people will experience an improvement in their sight soon after cataract surgery, although your vision may be blurred for a few days.
Eventually, you will usually be able to:
What are the risks?
The risk of serious complications as a result of cataract surgery is small. The most common complication is a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which can cause your vision to become cloudy again. This is where a skin or membrane grows over the back of the lens implant months or years later. If necessary, PCO can be treated with a simple laser eye surgery procedure to cut away the membrane.
Other complications are much rarer and can include:
Childhood cataracts
Cataracts most commonly develop in adults as a result of aging, but some babies are born with cataracts and children can also develop them at a young age. These are known as childhood cataracts.
Childhood cataracts are often referred to as:
Symptoms of cataracts in children
In children, cataracts can affect one or both eyes. The patches can sometimes get bigger and more can develop, meaning that vision may become increasingly affected. When your child is very young, it can be difficult to spot signs of cataracts. However, your baby's eyes will be routinely examined within 72 hours of birth and again when they are six to eight weeks old. Sometimes cataracts can develop in children after these screening tests, causing symptoms such as poor vision, 'wobbling' eyes and a squint (where the eyes point in different directions). It is particularly important to spot cataracts in children quickly because early treatment can reduce the risk of long-term vision problems. Therefore, you should visit your GP or tell your health visitor if you have any concerns about your child's eyesight.
What causes cataracts in children?
There are a number of reasons why a child may be born with cataracts or develop them while they are still young, although it is not possible to determine the exact cause in many cases.
Possible causes include:
How childhood cataracts are treated
Cataracts can be mild in children and sometimes have little or no effect on their vision. However, if cataracts are affecting your child's vision, they can slow down or stop their normal development of sight. In these cases, surgery to remove the affected lens (or lenses) will usually be recommended as soon as possible. The affected lens may sometimes be replaced with an artificial lens during surgery, although it is more common for the child to wear contact lenses or glasses after surgery to compensate for the lens that was removed. It can be difficult to predict exactly how much better your child's vision will be after treatment, although it is likely there will always be a degree of reduced vision in the affected eye (or eyes). However, most children with childhood cataracts are able to go on to live a full and normal life.
What are the risks?
Cataracts affecting vision that are not quickly treated can sometimes cause irreversible damage to eyesight, including a permanently
lazy eye and even blindness in severe cases. Cataract surgery is generally very successful, with a low risk of serious complications. The most common risk associated with cataract surgery is a condition that can affect artificial lens implants called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which causes cloudy vision to return. Although some of the possible complications of cataract surgery can affect your child's vision, they can often be treated with medication or further surgery.
Cataracts are cloudy patches that develop in the lens of your eye and can cause blurred or misty vision. They are very common.
The lens is the transparent structure that sits just behind your pupil (the black dot in the centre of your eye). It allows light to get to the back of your eye (retina). In some people, cataracts develop in the lens as they get older, stopping some of the light from reaching the back of the eye. Over time, the cataracts become worse and start affecting vision. Many people with cataracts will eventually need surgery to remove and replace the affected lens.
Symptoms of cataracts
Cataracts develop over many years and problems may at first be unnoticeable. They often develop in both eyes, although each eye may be affected differently. You will usually have blurred, cloudy or misty vision, or you may have small spots or patches where your vision is less clear. Cataracts may also affect your sight in the following ways:
- you may find it more difficult to see in dim or very bright light
- the glare from bright lights may be dazzling or uncomfortable to look at
- colours may look faded or less clear
- everything may have a yellow or brown tinge
- you may have double vision
- you may see a halo (a circle of light) around bright lights, such as car headlights or street lights
- if you wear glasses, you may find that they become less effective over time
When to see your optician
If you have problems with your vision, make an appointment to see your optician (also known as an optometrist). An optician can examine your eyes and test your sight. The optician may look at your eyes with an instrument called a slit lamp or an ophthalmoscope. These magnify your eye and produce a bright light that allows the optician to look inside and check for any cataracts. If it is thought you have cataracts, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist or an ophthalmic surgeon, who can confirm the diagnosis and plan your treatment. These are doctors who specialise in eye conditions and their treatment.
Who is affected?
Cataracts are the main cause of impaired vision worldwide. Although rare types of cataracts affect babies and young children, the problem is much more common in older people. Cataracts that develop with age are known as age-related cataracts. In England and Wales, it is estimated that around 2.5 million people aged 65 or older have some degree of visual impairment caused by cataracts.
What causes age-related cataracts?
The exact cause of age-related cataracts is unknown, although some experts have suggested they may be the result of changes in the structure of the lens over time. It is thought that the cloudy areas in the lens may be the result of changes in the proteins that make up the lens. However, it's not clear how or why getting older could cause these changes to happen. As well as your age, several other factors may increase your risk of developing cataracts, including:
- a history of cataracts in your family
- smoking
- regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
- a poor diet lacking in vitamins
- lifelong exposure of your eyes to sunlight
- taking corticosteroid medication at a high dose or for a long time
- previous eye surgery or injury
- certain health conditions, such as diabetes or long-term uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye)
Treating age-related cataracts
If your cataracts are mild, stronger glasses and brighter reading lights may be helpful for some time. However, cataracts get worse over time so it's likely you will eventually need treatment. The only treatment that is proven to be effective for cataracts is surgery. This will usually be recommended if your loss of vision has a significant effect on your daily activities, such as driving or reading.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens through a small incision (cut) in your eye and replacing it with a clear plastic one. In most cases, this will be carried out under local anaesthetic (where you are awake, but the eye is numbed) and you can usually go home the same day. Almost everyone who has cataract surgery experiences an improvement in their vision, although it can sometimes take a few days or weeks for your vision to settle. You can usually return to most of your normal activities within about two weeks.
After the operation, your plastic lens will be set up for a certain level of vision, so you may need to wear glasses in order to see objects that are either far away or close to you. If you wore glasses previously, your prescription will probably change. However, your optometrist will need to wait until your vision has settled before they can give you a new prescription
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is a procedure used to treat cataracts that are affecting your daily activities.
It is the most common operation performed in the UK, with more than 300,000 procedures carried out each year.
What are cataracts?
A cataract is cloudiness of the lens (the normally clear structure in your eye which focuses the light). They can develop in one or both eyes. The cloudiness can become worse over time, causing vision to become increasingly blurry, hazy or cloudy. Most cataracts develop with age, although rarely babies are born with cataracts or children develop them while they are still young.
When is cataract surgery recommended?
Minor cloudiness of the lens is a normal part of ageing. Significant cloudiness, or cataracts, generally get slowly worse over time and surgery to remove them is the only way to restore vision. However, it's not necessary to have surgery if your vision is not significantly affected and you don't have any difficulties carrying out everyday tasks. Cataract surgery is available on the NHS if they are making it difficult to carry out activities such as reading, driving and looking after someone under your care.
The operation
Cataract surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure that normally takes up to 30 to 45 minutes. It is usually carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic which means you are awake during the procedure and you can go home on the same day. During the operation, the surgeon makes a tiny incision (cut) in your eye so they can remove the affected lens. When the lens has been removed, the surgeon inserts a small plastic lens, called an intraocular implant or intraocular lens, in its place. If you have cataracts in both eyes, this procedure will usually be carried out on separate occasions a few weeks apart. This gives the first eye time to heal and time for your vision to return.
Recovery
You will normally be able to go home a few hours after having cataract surgery, although you will need to arrange for someone to collect you and take you home. Take it easy for the first two or three days after the operation and make sure to use any eye drops you are given by the hospital. You can carry on with most of your normal activities after cataract surgery, although you will need to avoid touching your eye or getting anything in it (such as soap and water) for a few weeks.
Results of cataract surgery
Most people will experience an improvement in their sight soon after cataract surgery, although your vision may be blurred for a few days.
Eventually, you will usually be able to:
- see things in focus (although glasses are often needed)
- look into lights without as much glare
- tell the difference between colours, which will seem brighter
What are the risks?
The risk of serious complications as a result of cataract surgery is small. The most common complication is a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which can cause your vision to become cloudy again. This is where a skin or membrane grows over the back of the lens implant months or years later. If necessary, PCO can be treated with a simple laser eye surgery procedure to cut away the membrane.
Other complications are much rarer and can include:
- tearing of the lens capsule (the "pocket" that holds the lens in place)
- all or a bit of the cataract dropping into the back of the eye
- inability to remove all of the cataract or insert a lens implant
- infection or bleeding in the eye
Childhood cataracts
Cataracts most commonly develop in adults as a result of aging, but some babies are born with cataracts and children can also develop them at a young age. These are known as childhood cataracts.
Childhood cataracts are often referred to as:
- congenital cataracts – cataracts that are present when a baby is born or shortly afterwards
- developmental, infantile or juvenile cataracts – cataracts that are diagnosed in older babies or children
Symptoms of cataracts in children
In children, cataracts can affect one or both eyes. The patches can sometimes get bigger and more can develop, meaning that vision may become increasingly affected. When your child is very young, it can be difficult to spot signs of cataracts. However, your baby's eyes will be routinely examined within 72 hours of birth and again when they are six to eight weeks old. Sometimes cataracts can develop in children after these screening tests, causing symptoms such as poor vision, 'wobbling' eyes and a squint (where the eyes point in different directions). It is particularly important to spot cataracts in children quickly because early treatment can reduce the risk of long-term vision problems. Therefore, you should visit your GP or tell your health visitor if you have any concerns about your child's eyesight.
What causes cataracts in children?
There are a number of reasons why a child may be born with cataracts or develop them while they are still young, although it is not possible to determine the exact cause in many cases.
Possible causes include:
- a genetic fault inherited from the child's parents that caused the lens to develop abnormally
- certain genetic conditions – including Down's syndrome
- certain infections picked up by the mother during pregnancy – including rubella and chickenpox
- an injury to the eye after birth
How childhood cataracts are treated
Cataracts can be mild in children and sometimes have little or no effect on their vision. However, if cataracts are affecting your child's vision, they can slow down or stop their normal development of sight. In these cases, surgery to remove the affected lens (or lenses) will usually be recommended as soon as possible. The affected lens may sometimes be replaced with an artificial lens during surgery, although it is more common for the child to wear contact lenses or glasses after surgery to compensate for the lens that was removed. It can be difficult to predict exactly how much better your child's vision will be after treatment, although it is likely there will always be a degree of reduced vision in the affected eye (or eyes). However, most children with childhood cataracts are able to go on to live a full and normal life.
What are the risks?
Cataracts affecting vision that are not quickly treated can sometimes cause irreversible damage to eyesight, including a permanently
lazy eye and even blindness in severe cases. Cataract surgery is generally very successful, with a low risk of serious complications. The most common risk associated with cataract surgery is a condition that can affect artificial lens implants called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which causes cloudy vision to return. Although some of the possible complications of cataract surgery can affect your child's vision, they can often be treated with medication or further surgery.