Optometrists Belfast

Cataracts affect men and women equally and can occur at any age although they are more common in older people. In the UK, it is estimated that more than half of people who are over 65 years of age have some cataract development in one or both eyes. Myths and misconceptions Recent research has shown that misconceptions abound about the nature of cataracts and their treatment. For example, 1. 25 per cent of us believe you can cure cataracts with drugs 2. 15 per cent of us believe that you only need to worry about cataracts once you’re over 65 years old 3. One in ten Brits don’t realise that cataracts can cause blindness 4. 31 per cent of us believe that the NHS would remove a cataract as soon as it was spotted by their optician when in fact it has to affect driving standards 5. Thousands of people still believe that the NHS is the only option they have for treatment Symptoms: The symptoms for cataracts can vary from one patient to the next but many people will experience the following: • Sight gradually becomes more washed out and cloudy. • Attention to detail becomes weaker, with small details and small print becoming harder to see. Objects such as the edge of steps can become more difficult to pick out too. • Bright lights can result in glare or become dazzling. • Colour vision can be affected resulting in a yellow hue/tinge. However, these symptoms can be treated by removing the cataract; left untreated, the clouding can become so severe that the patient becomes blind. Treatment: Though treatment for cataracts is available on the NHS, due to the long referral times and waiting periods, many people are opting for private treatments. • The treatment procedure involves removing the eye's cloudy natural lens and positioning an artificial lens in its place. This artificial lens then acts like a contact lens inside the eye. • On average, private treatment tends to be quicker than NHS procedures and can be done at an earlier stage than the referral criteria for NHS treatment. For further information see: http://www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth/eyeconditions/conditionsac/Pages/cataract.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cataracts-age-related/Pages/Introduction.aspx http://www.ultralase.com/vites/cataract-treatment Click here to access more useful information for the over 50s from in my prime.