Cataract
A cataract is clouding of the lens inside the eye, which makes vision blurred or misty. It develops slowly, mostly in older people, and is a leading cause of blindness in Afghanistan. Blindness from cataract can be reversed: a short, safe operation replaces the cloudy lens with a clear artificial one.
Symptoms
- Cloudy, blurred or misty vision that slowly gets worse
- Glare from sunlight or car lights, especially at night
- Colours look faded or yellow
- Needing frequent changes of glasses
- A white or grey spot seen in the pupil in advanced cataract
- In babies, a white pupil in photographs or not following objects
Causes
- Ageing, the most common cause
- Diabetes
- Long exposure to strong sunlight without eye protection
- Smoking
- Eye injury, or long use of steroid tablets or eye drops
- Some babies are born with cataract, for example after rubella in pregnancy
Prevention
- Wear sunglasses and a hat in strong sunlight
- Stop smoking
- Keep diabetes well controlled
- Do not use steroid eye drops without a doctor
- Protect the eyes from injury at work
- Have an eye check if vision is getting worse, especially after age 50
Treatment
- In early cataract, new glasses and better lighting may help for a while
- Surgery is the only effective treatment: the cloudy lens is removed and an artificial lens is placed
- The operation is short, usually under local anaesthetic, and most people go home the same day
- Use the eye drops given after surgery exactly as advised and keep follow-up visits
- Eye drops, oils or herbal remedies cannot remove a cataract
Common questions
Do I have to wait until the cataract is "ripe" before surgery?
No. Modern surgery can be done once the cataract affects daily life. Waiting too long can make the operation harder.
Can a cataract come back after surgery?
The cataract itself does not come back. Some people get a thin cloudy layer behind the new lens months or years later, which is easily treated with a quick laser procedure.