CATARACTS
EYE HEALTHCARE – CATARACTS
The risk of cataract increases with age, but other risk factors include Diabetes (cortical, “spoke-like” cataract), excessive drinking and smoking, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light or as a side effect of medication e.g. steroids ( posterior pole cataract). Cataracts can also occur from ‘Trauma’ to the eye e.g. Injury or can indeed can be there from birth (congenital cataract).
When ones ‘quality of life’ becomes affected by poor vision, the next stage is surgery. Here a small probe emitting ultrasound waves is inserted into the eye, removing the old lens by suction and replacing it with a new counterpart called an intraocular lens. This completes the process in a very prompt (approx 15 minutes) way delivering a greater than 95% success rate.
Noel McCrystal
BSc.(Hons.)MCOptom.Dip.Sc.V MASv.P