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Inside your eye is a lens. This lens allows light that enters the eye to focus on the back of the eye. As we age, the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. A cloudy lens is called a cataract.
There are many types of cataract. The most common cataract causes a yellowing of the lens and is called a 'nuclear sclerotic' cataract (below).
If a cataract is present for a long time, it matures. A mature cataract has a very white appearance, that can sometimes be visible even with the naked eye (below).
Usually cataracts will cause symptoms, including:
What causes cataract?
Most commonly, cataract is caused by age. They are very common, most people older than 70 will have some early cataract.
Other causes of cataracts include:
Generally, cataracts develop very slowly, over many years. Occasionally, they may develop quickly after trauma, or if you are diabetic.
In the past, we only removed cataracts when they were considered 'mature'. This was in part due to the poorer outcomes associated with cataract surgery, compared to current, modern techniques. These days, we tend to remove cataracts as soon as they start causing symptoms.
Everybody has different visual requirements and as such the timing of cataract surgery will be different for different people. Therefore, the decision to remove a cataract, or leave it alone, will be made after discussing your particular needs with your surgeon.
The only treatment for cataract is to remove it with an operation. After the cataract is removed, a new lens is inserted into the eye. This new lens is needed to allow light to focus again on the retina at the back of the eye.
The operation usually takes about 10 minutes, but it can be longer if you have a larger cataract. Ordinarily, you will go home about 1 hour after the procedure.