What is cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.
What Causes Cataract?
Cataract is common in the elderly due to ageing. In a Tanjong Pagar study conducted by the Singapore National Eye Centre, over 80% of people aged 60 and above had some form of cataracts. Prolonged ultra-violet light exposure, long term use of medications such as steroids and certain illnesses like diabetes are also risk factors for the development of cataracts. In the young, cataract can be present at birth or develop as a result of injury.
Symptoms of cataract:
Blurring vision is usually the first sign of cataract. Other symptoms may include changing glasses frequently due to increasing short-sightedness in the adults, colours appearing dull, poor vision in bright light, glare, haloes around lights, difficulty reading or watching television or driving at night.
How to prevent cataract:
You can protect your eyes from ultra-violet light by wearing sunglasses regularly, eating a balanced diet, treating diseases such as diabetes, and refraining from smoking.
Treatment options:
The symptoms of early cataract may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective option. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. The surgery is completed without any need for stitches. Spotting cataract early is key to prevent loss of vision.
If you would like to have a complete eye checkup or examination with an eye specialist, call our friendly medical concierge at +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg and we will be on hand to assist you.