Cataract Awareness Month runs throughout June

Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness and surgery, to remove them is the most regularly performed operation in the UK with figures showing that more than 300,000 cataract operations are carried out in England each year. As part of Cataract Awareness Month, which runs throughout June, eye experts are encouraging people to know the symptoms and to seek advice if they think they are developing cataracts.

Mr Phil Jaycock, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Spire Bristol Hospital, explained that although cataracts are common, they can be treated successfully to restore vision.

He said: “Cataract Awareness Month gives us a good opportunity to make people aware of the symptoms and reminds people of the importance of eye examinations.”

“A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Basically, the lens focuses light into a sharp image on the retina, which relays messages through the optic nerve to the brain. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurry.”

Cataracts develop slowly and hence the symptoms are gradual in onset. Symptoms include blurred or misty vision, glare around lights, poor vision in low light and faded colours. You may experience difficulty with reading and driving, especially in low light. If you wear glasses, you may feel your lenses are constantly dirty and need cleaning.

In addition to causing problems with your vision, advanced cataracts may make it difficult to assess conditions that affect the retina and optic nerve such as diabetes and glaucoma. Whilst most cataracts develop as a result of ageing, cataracts may be inherited, occur as a result of trauma, using medications such as steroids or occur secondary to diabetes.

“Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial one. In the past monofocal replacement lenses were predominantly used. Monofocal lenses are able to improve distance vision or near vision, but not both. More recently, multifocal lenses that can achieve both near and distance vision as well as ‘toric lenses’ that can correct astigmatism have been used,” explained Mr Jaycock.

Prior to the surgery, scans for evaluating the dimensions of the eye are carried out which help the surgeon to precisely calculate the power of the replacement lens required. The surgery usually takes less than 20 minutes and is performed, in the vast majority of cases, under local anaesthetic.

In the largest study of its kind, Mr Jaycock published a paper on the outcomes of 55,567 cataract operations. This work has updated National and International benchmark standards for cataract surgery.

Patients are usually home within a few hours and an improvement in vision may be noticed within the first days after the surgery. It is advisable to take a week off work and most people can resume their normal day to day activities within two to four weeks.

“The latest innovations in cataract surgery allow a rapid restoration of sight and allow patients to enjoy their hobbies and day-to-day life with reduced dependency on glasses and contact lenses,” added Mr Jaycock.

To find out more, Spire Bristol Hospital are inviting the public to a free patient information evening on Monday 25th June. The small presentation will be delivered by Mr Jaycock who will talk on blurry vision and cataract treatment. To book onto the event please call 0117 980 4080 or email [email protected]