What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision impairments and often affect older people. In fact, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 54% of those over 60 in the UK suffer from cataracts.

In this article, we’ll explore what causes cataracts, their symptoms, and how they’re treated.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Cataract symptoms depend on the severity of the condition as well as the person affected. So, what is the first sign of cataracts? They could be the following:

• Fuzzy or cloudy vision
• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Colours appearing dimmed or faded
• Experiencing more glare from sunshine, headlights and lamps
• Finding it difficult to see at night
• Rapid changes in vision prescription

Cataracts are actually divided into four specific stages:

Early cataract: The lens is still clear, but your ability to focus on objects (near and far) starts to be affected. At this age, you may experience eye cataract symptoms like eye strain, cloudiness or blurred vision.

Immature cataract: Once the proteins begin to cloud the lens, it’ll be more difficult to see through, especially at the centre.

Mature cataract: The cloudiness of the lens will start to look white, amber or milky. It would have reached the edges of the lens and significantly impacted your vision. At this stage, your ophthalmologist will recommend cataract-removal surgery.

Hypermature cataract: At this stage, the density and hardness of the cataract would have increased, and your vision would be significantly impaired. If hypermature cataracts are left untreated, there is an increased risk of glaucoma.

What Causes Cataracts?

As we age, the protein that makes up the lens begins to break down and form clumps, resulting in obstructed vision and the deterioration of refractive power.

The most common cause of cataracts is ageing, but there are other causes, including:

Diabetes

High blood sugar levels can cause structural changes to the lens, speeding up the formation of cataracts. Plus, an increased sugar content in the aqueous humour (a clear liquid occupying the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye) can cause the lens to swell and become cloudy.

Eye injuries

Trauma to the lens or recurring eye diseases can contribute to the development of cataracts. This is because the structure of the lens has been impacted.

Eye conditions

Certain eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma or uveitis can cause cataracts. In some cases, having high myopia (shortsightedness) may also cause cataracts.

Eye surgery

Some types of eye surgery that impact the retina can accelerate the development of cataracts.

Medication

Certain types of medications can contribute to the cause of cataracts. For example, phenothiazine drugs (those which treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), cortisone and even some cholesterol-lowering medications.

Sun exposure

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays for extended periods of time can heighten the risk of cataracts. When UV rays hit the lens of the eye, they degrade the lens protein which essentially contributes to the development of cataracts.

Radiation treatment

Radiation exposure can damage the cells covering the posterior surface of the lens, resulting in cloudiness. When undergoing radiation treatment, the specialist should shield the lens from radiation beams where possible.

Nutrient deficiency

A lack of Zinc, Vitamin C and complex B Vitamins has been linked to an increased risk of cataracts.

Types of Cataracts

There are four cataract types: nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular and congenital. Let’s explore each of them below.

Nuclear Cataracts

Nuclear cataracts are also known as nuclear sclerosis and are the most common type of cataract. They form in the middle of the lens (the nucleus). As it progresses, cloudiness can spread from the nucleus to the other layers of the eye.

Cortical Cataract

Almost like the opposite of nuclear cataracts, cortical cataracts begin to form on the outside of your lens and then move towards the middle. Cortical cataracts develop spoke-like lines that lead into the centre of the eye, often causing light to scatter as it enters the eye.

Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts

Posterior subcapsular cataracts, also known as ‘secondary cataracts’, form near the back of the lens where it borders the capsule that keeps it in place. This type of cataract often develops alongside other types of cataracts. Symptoms include diminished visual acuity and halo vision.

Congenital Cataracts

Some babies are born with cataracts, and sometimes young children can develop them (known as childhood cataracts). Congenital cataracts in babies and young children are rare - in the UK, around 3 to 4 in every 10,000 babies are born with cataracts.

How Long Does it Take to Go Blind From Cataracts?

Age-related cataracts usually take decades to cause blindness, but there are some cataract types that can cause rapid vision loss.

A severe eye injury can damage the lens and lead to traumatic cataracts that develop within weeks. This ultimately speeds up the potential development of blindness.

Radiation from sun damage or medical treatments can increase the development of cataract-led blindness. In severe cases, congenital cataracts could even cause blindness.

How to Prevent Cataracts

There is unfortunately no way to prevent cataracts, and research is still underway to determine clear preventative actions that can be undertaken.

There are some things you can do to slow the progression of cataracts, such as:

• Protecting your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses and a hat.
• Protecting your eyes from injury - especially when working with power tools or playing sports.
• Stop smoking.
• Eating a healthy diet with foods that are rich in Vitamins C and B, Zinc and other essential nutrients.
• Monitor the progression of cataracts by getting regular eye tests with an ophthalmologist.

If you suffer from presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery not only corrects the vision problem but also helps prevent cataracts. Your natural lens is removed and then replaced with an artificial one that cannot develop a cataract.

In more severe cases, your ophthalmologist can recommend cataract surgery to remove certain cataract types.

Motiyabind Operation to Treat Cataracts

Cataract surgery, also known as a motiyabind operation, involves replacing the cloudy lens inside your eye with an artificial one.

The procedure takes up to 45 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthetic. During the motiyabind operation, the surgeon will make a tiny cut in your eye to remove the cloudy lens and then replace it with a clear one.

It has a high success rate in improving eyesight and takes about 6 weeks to fully recover. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the surgeries may be done 6 to 12 weeks apart to ensure proper healing.

When it comes to the motiyabind operation cost, it may depend on whether you do it through the NHS or privately. On average, it costs between £3,000 and £4,000 per eye via private healthcare.

If you’re concerned about developing cataracts, we recommend speaking to a healthcare professional or an ophthalmologist. You can book a free, 30-minute consultation with our ophthalmologist to see whether you’re eligible for refractive lens exchange or other laser eye surgery treatments to improve your vision.