What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are due to the gradual clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. This process is typically age-related, with most people developing a form of cataract at some stage in life. In rare cases, cataracts can result from trauma to the eye or be present from birth (congenital cataract).
The most common symptom is a blurring or haze across the vision, which patients often describe as "looking through a film." They can also significantly exaggerate issues with glare, particularly causing starbursts or halos around headlights when driving at night. A cataract can eventually reach a stage where, no matter how precise your glasses or contact lens prescription is, your vision will not reach an acceptable standard. As we often explain: if your car's windscreen is dirty (like having a cataract), the best glasses in the world won't help you see clearly outside.
Cataracts & Myopia Risk
It is a common misconception that myopia (shortsightedness) only causes blurry vision. Unfortunately, we now know that myopia is a significant risk factor for several sight-threatening conditions, including cataracts.
If the eye is too long, it causes over-stretching and weakening of the eye tissue, which puts people with myopia at a higher risk of developing cataracts later in life. Our data shows a clear link:
Monitoring & Treatment
The impact of cataracts on vision and functionality differs between individuals. Not everyone with cataracts needs immediate removal.
Our optometrists use advanced diagnostic tools to monitor the progression of your cataracts and determine the optimal time for intervention. When they reach a stage where removing them will significantly improve your vision and quality of life, we are happy to organise an immediate referral to a trusted ophthalmologist. The procedure itself is highly refined and can take as little as 20 minutes!