William Shakespeare once said:’ the eyes are the window to your soul’. This catchy phrase has also been attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci, philosopher Cicero and even the bible. Proven by the wisdom of philosophers, it is of no doubt that our quality of life will be affected if we lose the gift of sight - poor vision. The problem of poor vision is often prevalent within the population aged 40 and above. With the increase in prevalence of high myopia, the risk of poor vision among the population has always been increasing. Yellowing of vision, commonly known is cataracts, is one such issue.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are yellowing of the natural crystalline lens within the human eyes. The main reason for cataracts is due to ageing and excessive ultraviolet radiation on the eyes. Also contributed by high myopia, hypertension, diabetes etc, the crystalline lens turns yellow and gets denatured gradually, causing a reduction in visual clarity. You can imagine the process of cataract formation as the ‘loss of transparency’ of the window panels in our house, resulting in poor view of the outdoor scenery.
In Singapore, the prevalence of cataracts are seen in as high as 95% of the population aged 70 years and above, 80% of those aged 60 to 70 and also 30% of those as young as 45 years old.
Cataracts are slow developing and causes reduction of vision over time. Other symptoms of cataracts are:
1. Haloes and glare in night vision
2. Poor contrast vision
3. Double vision
4. Loss of cloud saturation
5. Poor vision despite wearing of glasses
Is cataract a sight threatening disease?
Well, No, as cataracts are easily treatable via a simple surgical procedure, called Phaco-emulsification. During the surgery, the attending surgeon will remove cataracts via a small incision in the eye and implant a replacement artificial lens that restores clear vision after that. Cataract surgery are simple procedure that can be done within 30 mins as a outpatient procedure. Visual prognosis post surgery are high and many people continues to enjoy good vision thereafter.
What can i do to slow down the development of cataracts?
A good habit of wearing sunglasses or photochromic spectacle lenses can help retard the progression of cataracts!
For seniors and those aged 45 years and above, it is recommended that they undergo an annual eye examination yearly to detect and monitor for any sign of cataracts.
For more information, do make an appointments with us for a general eye examination.
References
Chelvin, S. (2022). Dr Chelvin Sng's guide to cataract surgery in Singapore (2022). Retrieved from Chelvin Sng Eye Centre: https://www.drchelvinsng.com/dr-chelvin-sngs-guide-to-cataracts-in-singapore-2022/
Wei Han, C. (2018). 5 Important Facts about Cataracts. Retrieved from Health Plus Mt Elizabeth Hospital: https://beta.mountelizabeth.com.sg/healthplus/article/cataracts-facts#:~:text=In%20Singapore%2C%20cataract%20affects%20around,the%20age%20of%2070%20years.
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