The word ‘cataract’ can seem daunting or even foreign for some, but as Swan Hill and Kerang Optical optometrist Kayla Adams explains, they are just part of the natural ageing process.
“When we are younger, the lens inside our eye is generally clear, like a clean window.,” she said.
“As our eyes age, the lens becomes cloudy, like a dusty window. This clouding of the lens is what we call a cataract.”
“Cataracts usually start developing in people over 55 years of age as part of the normal ageing process. However, other factors such as diabetes, excessive UV exposure, smoking, prescribed steroid medication and heavy alcohol use, can also contribute to the development of cataracts.”
Miss Adams said that in Australia, more than 700,000 people are affected by cataracts. They form slowly and may not initially impact your vision. As the cloudiness becomes denser, it can cause sight to worsen.
“Because it’s like looking through a fog, cataracts can make it more challenging to read, drive at night, or at dawn or dusk when the sun shines directly through the windscreen. They tend to put a haze or film over your vision which can also cause a fading of colours,” she said.
Miss Adams recommends regular eye examinations.
“The team and I at Swan Hill and Kerang Optical are passionate about helping you achieve the best possible vision solutions,” she said.
“It’s important to have an eye examination at least once every two years, and then every 12 months for people over the age of 65. These allow us to screen for eye conditions including cataracts and we can suggest ways to maximise your vision.”
Cataracts do not go away on their own and will likely require intervention from an ophthalmologist once they start impacting more heavily on your vision.
“Cataract surgery is usually recommended once the cataract starts to significantly impair your vision or begins to interrupt your normal activities. This surgery is one of the most common and successful surgeries in Australia. It involves removing the lens in the eye with the cataract and replacing it with an artificial lens. Once removed, cataracts do not grow back. As optometrists, we monitor the cataracts and their impact on vision, Once they are at a stage that requires surgical intervention, we refer the patient to the appropriate ophthalmologist.”
Miss Adams also outlined some ways to reduce your risk of cataract development. These include protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses and a hat, stopping smoking, and eating a well-balanced diet.
“Most people are aware of the term ‘slip, slop, slap’ but the ‘slide’ is often left off the end of this saying. Sliding on a pair of sunglasses is one of the best ways to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays which can contribute to the development of cataracts.
“With the UV index in Swan Hill reaching extreme at 12-13 in the summertime, it’s more important than ever to make sure we’re wearing sunglasses whenever we’re outside.”
For an appointment for a regular eye examination and a discussion about how to best protect your eyes, please call the team at Swan Hill and Kerang Optical on 03 5033 1424, or book online at www.swanhilloptical.com.au
