Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. One of the many gifts of aging, cataracts occur when the lens in our eye becomes cloudy and opaque resulting in a reduction in our vision. UV light accelerates the progression of cataracts, highlighting the importance of wearing sunglasses to slow their development.
In the early stages of cataract formation, contrast is reduced causing difficulty with night driving and in low light conditions.
As cataracts progress, we can experience shifts in our glasses prescription until eventually the cataracts are too opaque and a change in glasses offers no improvement to the clarity of our vision. At this point, surgery is required to remove the cataract and a clear lens is inserted in its place, restoring vision.
Cataract surgery wait times can range from 6-12 months. Routine eye examinations to monitor the development and progression of cataracts is key to ensure a timely referral for cataract surgery prior to significant vision loss.