Cataract

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. The lens sits behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye) and is normally crystal clear. When it becomes cloudy, light cannot pass through it cleanly, causing blurred or misty vision.

Cataracts are extremely common — almost everyone will develop them to some degree with age. They are the leading cause of reversible vision loss worldwide.

Symptoms

• Blurred or misty vision that does not improve with new glasses
• Glare and haloes around lights, particularly when driving at night
• Colours appearing faded or yellowed
• Frequent changes to your glasses prescription
• Double vision in one eye
• Difficulty reading in low light

Causes

The most common cause is simply age — the lens proteins gradually break down over time. Other factors that accelerate cataract formation include:

• Diabetes
• Prolonged steroid use (eye drops, inhalers, tablets)
• Previous eye injury or surgery
• UV light exposure over many years
• Smoking

When is Treatment Needed?

Cataracts do not need to be treated immediately. Treatment is needed when:

• Your vision is affecting your daily life, driving, reading, or working
• You can no longer meet the DVLA driving standard (6/12 on Snellen, number plate at 20 metres)
• Your optician advises that glasses can no longer improve your vision adequately

Treatment

The only effective treatment for cataract is surgery — the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant. There are no eye drops, exercises, or dietary supplements that treat cataract.

CES Medical offers cataract surgery on both NHS and private pathways, including premium lens options that can reduce dependence on glasses.