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Cataracts

Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2008.

This factsheet is for people who have cataracts or who would like information about them.

A cataract is a painless clouding of the lens of the eye. You generally develop cataracts over a long period of time, leading to a gradual worsening of your eyesight. They can eventually lead to blindness if left untreated.

About cataracts

Cataracts are common in older people. About a third of people aged over 65 have cataracts in one or both eyes. In the UK, most cataracts develop as people get older.

Your cataracts can usually be treated with surgery, but not all people need to have surgery provided that they don't significantly reduce vision.

The eye

Your eye is a spherical structure that contains fluid.

Near the front of your eye is the lens, which sits behind the iris - the coloured part of your eye. The lens helps you to see things in focus. It focuses light rays on to the back of the eyeball (retina), to form an image, which is then transmitted to your brain.

Illustration showing the structure of the eye
The structure of the eye

The lens is normally a clear structure which can change its shape to allow you to focus on near and distant objects. When the lens becomes cloudy it's called a cataract.

Types of cataract

There are different types of cataract, some of which are due to rare diseases or as a result of local eye injuries or inflammation (for more information, see Causes). However, the two main types are:

  • age-related cataracts - the most common type
  • cataracts present at birth (congenital cataracts), which are relatively rare but important to diagnose early since vision has to be learnt very early in infancy (cataracts present at birth stop the eye from learning to see and can cause visual impairment even if removed later in life)

This factsheet is about adult cataracts.

Symptoms of cataracts

If you have a cataract, you may have no symptoms. Alternatively you may have one or more of the symptoms listed below.

  • Your vision may get worse which may make you feel like your vision is cloudy, fuzzy or filmy.
  • Spots in your vision.
  • Glare and halos from lights or the sun. This may be severe and you may also have difficulty driving at night.
  • Double vision in one eye.
  • Your colour vision may become washed out or faded.

Complications of cataracts

If left untreated cataracts may eventually lead to blindness. In the UK cataracts are normally diagnosed and treated before they reach this stage.

Causes of cataracts

Cataracts are caused by changes in the lens protein of the eye, which makes them cloudy.

There are certain factors that can increase your risk of getting cataracts. These include:

  • diabetes
  • an injury to the eye
  • exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight
  • medication use, such as long-term use of steroids
  • smoking
  • heavy drinking
  • a family history of cataracts
  • eating too much or too little
  • not eating a healthy, balanced diet
  • dehydration

Diagnosis of cataracts

A GP, an optician or an ophthalmologist (a doctor specialising in eye health) will look into your eyes with a special viewing instrument called an ophthalmoscope.

A deterioration in your eyesight may be identified by eye tests using standard charts. It's quite common to be diagnosed with a cataract during a routine eye test without having any symptoms.

Treatment of cataracts

If you have cataracts, you may find that your vision is still good enough for you to get along fine with glasses or contact lenses and that surgery isn't required. The time to consider treatment is if your vision has become noticeably worse, can't be corrected with a change in your prescription lenses and this is interfering with your everyday activities such as work and hobbies.

Left untreated, your lens may eventually become very cloudy so that it's impossible to see any detail at all, although you will always be able to see some light.

Self-help

Wearing glasses may improve your vision if your cataract is in the early stages of development, but your cataract will probably get worse over time so this will only provide a temporary solution.

There is no known way to prevent cataracts that develop as a result of getting older.

Medicines

So far, no medication or diet has been found to slow down the growth of cataracts, and there is no medication that can clear a clouded lens.

Surgery

Surgical removal of your cataract is the only way to restore or maintain your vision. This involves replacing your cloudy lens with an artificial one. The most common technique is called phacoemulsification. This is typically performed under local anaesthetic. This completely blocks the feeling from the eye area and you will stay awake during the operation. You will normally be allowed home the same day. For more information, see Related topics.

Further information

Related topics

Sources

  • Implantation of accommodating intraocular lenses for cataract. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2007, Interventional procedure guidance 209. www.nice.org.uk
  • Cataract surgery guidelines. Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2004. www.rcophth.ac.uk
  • Understanding cataracts. Patient Information. Royal College of Ophthalmologists. www.rcophth.ac.uk, accessed 4 December 2007
  • Cataract, senile. emedicine. www.emedicine.com, accessed 18 December 2007
  • Effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health: report of an advisory group on non-ionising radiation. Health Protection Agency. Documents of the NRPB: Volume 6, No 2. www.hpa.org.uk
  • Treating cataracts with implantable accommodating lenses. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2007, Information about NICE Interventional procedure 209. www.nice.org.uk

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: June 2008

 

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