What is a cataract?

Diagnosis

If your vision is blurrred and you suspect you may have a cataract, your first step is get a referral to an eye unit for examination.  This will establish the health of your eye and whether a cataract or any other condiition is present and needs treatment.

Firstly, with my patients, I discuss the  difficulties they are having and how these affect their daily life. Most will say they want cataract surgery once they can no longer see well enough to drive.  Those who do not drive and feel their daily lives are not affected unduly are usually happier to defer any decision.

Next, I examine their eyes, first checking the vision and after this drops are put into both eyes in order to dilate the pupils.  This process allows a better inspection of the lens and retina and enables me to look for cataracts and any other eye conditions that might be present.

In the case of a cataract being present and where loss of vision interferes with daily life, I willl be able to discuss surgery to remove it and to give an idea of the outcome of an operation, based on the general health of the eye and any other relevant matters. Thanks to dramatic advances in cataract surgery, it is no longer necessary to wait for the cataract to mature.