Dear Readers,

Lloyd M. is a 70-year-old gentleman who attends a clinic in St. Catherine. He is a diabetic and is having visual problems. Recently, his vision has been blurred and 'dark'. His doctor told him that he has cataract and will probably need to remove one of them soon. Mr. M. asks Lifeline to let him know: what is a cataract? He asks if surgery is the only available treatment.

A cataract is an opacification (a whiteness) occurring within the clear lens found in the eye. The eye lens is responsible for focusing light so that it will form a clear image on the retina at the back of the eye. The lens makes the adjustments to incoming light which allows us to see properly. It is a small cervix structure located just behind the eye pupil.

Impairing vision

When opaque (white) spots form within the lens, they prevent the proper processing of the light and vision becomes impaired. Cataracts usually develop over many years and many mature individuals over age 65 would be found to have some degree of lens opacification if examined, but to a minor extent which does not affect vision. However, as the white cataract continues to develop and transparency is lost, then vision will suffer.

Initially, blurring of vision is experienced and there may be loss of visual clarity and detail. People sometimes describe this as 'foggy vision'. So, why does cataract occur? To a certain extent, cataract formation is a part of the ageing process. People live longer and long-term exposure to free radicals in our diet as well as worsening blood vascular circulation with poor tissue nutrition increases the risk of cellular damage throughout the body, including the specialised cells in the eyelens. This damage to the eye will result in cataract formation. The individual who is diabetic often has impaired vascular circulation and subsequent poor cellular nutrition and is therefore more prone to eye cataracts, as well as other significant complications to specialised organs of the body. Cataracts usually occur in both eyes but usually one eye is more seriously affected. It is only when the whiteness in the lens becomes visible through the eye pupil that the individual will become aware of the cataract. Cataracts are painless and rarely cause total blindness.

There are other causes of cataracts. These other cataracts are usually the result of eye trauma, such as a blow or exposure to chemicals, infrared rays or X-rays. When cataracts first occur, strong prescription corrective lenses are usually quite sufficient to restore good vision. As the cataract development progress, surgery may be recommended. Cataract surgery is a very common and very successfully performed procedure. No one need fear it!

The success rate in cataract removal is over 95 per cent. Often these days, local anaesthesia is used and hospitalisation is not required. Modern laser techniques are now available which result in rapid recuperation.

Cataract surgery involves removing the non-functional lens from the eye and then implanting a new small plastic lens inside the eye. Sometimes, external corrective lenses (eye glasses) are also used.

Write Lifeline

P.O. Box 1731

Kingston 8