Understanding Cataracts Dr. Matthew Quinn, MD, FRCSC, Ophthalmologist

A cataract is the aging of the lens that you were born with. As that lens ages, it becomes thicker and can turn from a clear structure to a more yellow or cloudy structure. When this occurs, it begins to absorb light, particularly blue colors, so that that patient begins to find they need a brighter light to read or perform other tasks. As the cataract progresses over time, a person’s vision may become blurry, lights may become more distorted or streaky at night time, which for many can be challenging when driving at night for example.

If we live long enough, everybody will develop a cataract. As cataracts progress slowly, people may not even notice the first signs of this reduction in visibility. There are, however, also some people who are at risk of developing cataracts at a younger age. These may include people on certain medications or with very long eyes, or if they've had prior surgery or trauma. Most people on average will have cataract surgery in their late 60s or early 70s. Seeing an optometrist for regular eye exams can diagnose cataracts early in their development.

Treatment for cataracts is a surgical procedure that removes the clouded yellow lens, replacing it with a clear artificial lens. This operation is relatively fast and effective with minimal downtime to the patient. In order to receive proper treatment a patient is required to see an ophthalmologist who specializes in the treatment of cataracts. A referral is generally made from the optometrist to the ophthalmologist who has screened and diagnosed the condition.

In terms of the risks of surgery, there are two categories of risk that that might threaten the vision and are serious or concerning. These are things like a retinal detachment or an infection. Fortunately, this occurs in less than 1 in 1000 people. Some people, maybe around 1 in 20 patients, might feel disappointed in the surgery because their eyes take longer to recover than perhaps their friends did due to some swelling or dry eye. But in general, this is one of the most safe and effective operations that human beings have developed world wide.

If you feel you may have some of the symptoms of cataracts, or you have more questions about them, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local optometrist or family physician.

Presenter: Dr. Matthew Quinn, Ophthalmologist, Ottawa, ON

Local Practitioners: Ophthalmologist