Facts About Cataract

Cataracts are the No. 1 cause of blindness in Singapore but fortunately, the condition can be easily treated and the blindness reversed. A cataract is formed when the usually clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. This hinders light from entering the eye and causes vision to  become blurred over time. Patients may also see halos around lights or find that colours look dull. About 65 per cent of those blind in both eyes here, suffer from cataracts.

The condition is often caused by ageing. More than a third of people aged 40 and above have cataracts, a 1998 study on 1,152 Chinese adults living in Tanjong Pagar found. This rises to over 90 per cent for those aged 70 and above. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays present in sunlight, long-term use of drugs like steroids, and some diseases like diabetes raise the risk of developing cataracts.

Young people can also be born with cataracts, or they can develop them because of eye injuries. To avoid developing cataracts, wear sunglasses with UV protection and lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent diabetes.

The standard treatment for cataract is to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, artificial one. The lens can be designed to correct refractive errors like short-sightedness, which is a bonus for patients as they will not have to wear spectacles after surgery. However, in rare cases where the patient’s cataracts are too severe and have damaged the cornea, the condition cannot be treated and the person is left permanently blind.

Top 5 causes of blindness:
1. Cataract
2. Undercorrected refractive errors
3. Glaucoma
4. Macular degeneration
5. Diabetic Retinopathy