Cataract is when the crystalline lens inside your eye (a bit like the lens in your glasses) goes yellow and cloudy over time due to UV damage from the sun. Initially cataracts may cause your prescription to change and you may need to just update your glasses. Eventually, the cataract becomes so cloudy that surgery is required to remove it and a new artificial clear lens will be put back into the eye to replace the cataract. You will then be able to see clearly again! You may need to update your glasses once the surgery is done as generally your eye specialist will put a prescription clear lens back into your eye that helps to correct some of your vision so your old pair of glasses may not be useful anymore.

Cataract surgery is a very common procedure so most eye specialists are very good at it. The procedure generally takes around 30 minutes to perform. However, if your cataract is very cloudy and dense, the surgery may take a little longer. It is therefore recommended that you see your Optometrist regularly for eye examinations so that you are well informed of how your cataract is progressing.

As cataract is due to UV damage from the sun, it is very important that you wear sunglasses or photochromic lenses (commonly used is Transitions lenses) and a hat when you are outside to help protect UV getting into the eyes.