Cataracts and Me - Treatments available

As a child I briefly wore reading glasses. I say wore but as I hated them, more often than not they were hidden away or forgotten on school days. Subsequently this meant that I had to take a school eye test without having my specs to hand. I thought I better confess and so shamefacedly told the school nurse that I wore reading glasses but had forgotten them that day. Well surprise surprise, she told me that she did not know why I was wearing glasses as I did not need them. Suffice to say they never touched my face again.

Fast forward more than 20 years and I began to find that my arms were not long enough to enable me to get the written word into my field of view. Initially I just thought that everyone was using a much smaller font. I complained persistently about phone books and the small print, which was becoming even smaller. In fact it was minute. I finally found that when I was attending a training course and I could not read the small accompanying hand book for love nor money.

I gave in, admitted that I might need spectacles and trotted off to the opticians.

The eye sight test showed that I needed reading glasses. Ones that I could wear for accessing the computer also. I wore these for about ten years. Of course I had two yearly eye tests and changed my glasses as advised.

Now, however, I started having a bit of a problem with objects in the distance. I was finding that old ladies were asking me what number bus was coming along and I was having to confess that I had no idea.

So there I was with poor near and distance vision. I opted for varifocals and have been going along nicely with these, thank you very much, until recently.

Earlier this year I went for my eye test and explained to the optician some of the problems I have been experiencing. These have been:-

• If someone is coming toward me with light behind them I cannot make the person out. They are in total silhouette.
• When the street lights are on at night they have a huge halo come glow around them. In fact any light source looks like this to me.

It was a new optician that I was consulting so he began the test and thoroughly examined my eyes. He told me that I was beginning with cataracts. I had been told this a couple of years ago but had been led to believe that they were in the very early stages.

This optician however had different news for me. He told me that my cataracts are a little different. I never like to do anything in a straight forward manner. They are where the light enters the eye and this is why I have been experiencing the specific problems detailed.

Usually cataracts when fully formed are visible to others. However, my eyes still look quite clear. The optician told me though that he thinks within a year, two at the latest, I will have to have my cataracts operated on. I am only 57 now. However children can develop cataracts and I have known people much younger than me have them.

I was not particularly happy though with the diagnosis. I have always had a dread of needing eye surgery. However my sight, just like everyone else's, is precious. If I need surgery that is what I will have.

Cataract surgery has moved on in leaps and bounds in the west and has a much better success rate these days. There also a few different types of surgery available. The NHS in the UK had long waiting lists for such surgery a couple of years ago but these have been cut dramatically.

My local hospital now offers a one stop pre op clinic for cataract surgery where you undergo a pre-op and are given a date for your surgery. This date will usually only be a few weeks away, in the near future.

I cannot say that I am over the moon at the prospect of this operation but I am glad that I live in the western world, and in this day and age, when such means are available.

Apparently there are three classifications of cataracts.These are:-

• A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with diabetes, high farsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa or those taking high doses of steroids may develop a subcapsular cataract.
• A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms. This cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and is due to natural aging changes.
• A cortical cataract, which forms in the lens cortex, gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts

I am not sure what category my cataracts fall into. I have had thyroid problems since I was in my twenties and do wonder if this has any bearing on my eye condition.

WHAT ARE CATARACTS?

The eye has a natural lens which focuses the light onto the Retina at the back of the eye. This lens sits behind the Iris and the Pupil. A cataract is a clouding of this lens.

Our lenses are mostly made up of water and protein, which is assembled in a particular way to allow the light clear passage. If the protein starts to clump together in a different sort of way clouding will develop and the lens will become unclear.

TREATMENTS

Current researchers are learning more and more about cataracts all the time. No doubt in years to come this condition will be preventable. For now surgery remains the option. Usually the cataract needs to develop somewhat before surgery can be performed.

My optician tells me that is not the case with mine. As I am still relatively young, his words not mine, and still working I should be able to have them removed as soon as they become problematic.

Usually one cataract is treated first just in case there any problems, especially those which cause a further loss of vision.

GENERAL OR LOCAL ANAESTHETICS?

A lot depends upon your general heath and what the pre op shows. The shape and length of your eye can determine if it will be better for you to have a general anaesthetic as opposed to a local. Local's take the form of an injection into the corner of your eyeball or topical eye drops which numb the eye. I will plump for a GA, given a choice, as I do not like to see or hear what is going on around me during operations. However I will follow the advice and recommendation given.

The procedure is usually quite brief assuming, that there are no complications. Obviously if you have a local anaesthetic your recovery time after the operation will be quicker.

These days the surgeon may replace the lens also so that after surgery you may find that you no longer need to wear spectacles. That would be lovely but it is not always the case. I will just be happy if my operation is 100% successful. Of course any surgical procedure will have some risks and some failures.

 I am not a professional so please seek appropriate advice if you feel that you may be developing cataracts. This hub details what I have read and been told over the years. I did work briefly, in an admin role, at my local eye hospital and so have some experience of local procedures regarding cataracts. However on the whole this hub is one Hubber's personal experiences of cataracts and their development.