What is a cataract?

Cataract is the term used to refer to the clouding of the natural lens.

What are the symptoms of a cataract?

A cataract usually develops gradually over a number of years. Surprisingly, you have no complaints at all for a long time—the human body gets used to the change.

First symptoms may be:

• frequent glare, especially at night
• the perception of double contours when reading
• generally blurred vision
• difficulty adapting quickly to changing light conditions

General blurring does not occur until later, then a patient feels as if they are looking through frosted glass.

What causes cataracts?

Cataracts are a normal part of the ageing process. However, it can also occur at a younger age—risk factors for this are, for example, short-sightedness or a family history of cataracts. An earlier clouding of the lens also occurs after injury or taking medication over a longer period of time (e.g. cortisone).

How are cataracts treated?

Cataracts can only be treated by surgery. It involves a minor operation and leads to a normalisation of visual acuity