December 2021 - Armadale Eye Clinic

what causes cataract melbourne

What Causes Cataract? Information On How To Manage This Condition

December 31, 2021/0 Comments/in Cataract Surgery /by armadaleeye

Most people have heard the term “cataract” before. In fact, it is likely that most people will personally know someone who has a cataract or who has undergone cataract surgery. Cataracts are a very common finding during an eye exam, mainly because developing cataracts is a normal part of ageing. Other than age, keep reading to find out what causes cataract.

What is an Eye Cataract? Information About the Condition

A cataract is an opacity of the lens inside the eyeball. This lens is typically transparent so that light can easily pass through to allow for vision. However, due to the various factors that can lead to developing cataracts, the eye’s lens can lose its transparency. This results in the typical symptoms of a cataract, which include hazy, filmy, or cloudy vision, reduced contrast sensitivity, and increased glare sensitivity.

In the early stages of a cataract, surgery may usually be postponed quite safely. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will discuss with you whether they recommend you undertake cataract surgery at a certain point in time or whether your vision can be reasonably improved through a change in your spectacle prescription or by increasing the lighting in your environment. If you find that these measures aren’t sufficient to improve your sight to a level you’re comfortable with, your eye care professional will counsel you on your options with cataract surgery.

Depending on what causes your cataract, there may be some situations where the cataract progresses rapidly, causing a steep decline in your vision. This may mean you need to undergo cataract surgery just a short period of time after first developing cataracts.

What Causes Cataract? Find Out the Various Factors Affecting the Conditions of the Eyes

Increasing age accounts for the vast majority of cataract cases, known as senile cataracts, and subsequently, the majority of cataract surgery operations. Although there are exceptions, these tend to be slow-growing. While it’s not fully understood, age-related cataracts are thought to develop due to changes to the lens structure from accumulative oxidative damage to the fibres. UV exposure is also a contributing factor. The damage to the lens fibres causes them to lose their transparent arrangement, resulting in a haze in the lens.

What else causes cataract? There are various causes that can lead to the formation of a cataract, including:

Certain systemic diseases or conditions

A systemic disease is one that affects the entire body and is not localised to one organ or area, like the eye. Certain metabolic systemic conditions have been associated with the formation of a cataract and an increased risk of requiring early cataract surgery. Abnormal metabolic processes in the body can result in certain compounds accumulating in the lens of the eye, affecting its transparency and resulting in a cataract. Diabetes is a well-known metabolic disease that is linked with the early development of cataracts. During diabetes, high glucose levels in the body cause the eye’s lens to swell as it absorbs excess water into its fibres. This influx of fluid damages the fibres, causing them to become opaque and creating a cataract. Having a metabolic disease has the potential to make your cataract surgery at a higher risk of complications.

Other systemic conditions that are associated with cataract development include hypertension, obesity, allergic disease (known as atopy), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and Marfan’s syndrome.

Certain medications and medical procedures

Although medicine is designed to cure not harm, cataracts are a side effect of some drugs and medical procedures. Steroid medications, whether administered topically to the eye, ingested orally, injected, or inhaled, are a known culprit on the list of what causes cataract. Typically, the effects of steroid medications in the formation of a cataract will be dependent on the dosage and the duration that you’re using the medication. However, some individuals are more susceptible to the effects of these medications compared to others.

Some medical procedures to the eye have the potential to cause a cataract as an unfortunate side effect. One of the more common of these is retinal detachment repair. Although the surgery to fix a retinal detachment is intentional, the trauma of the procedure may induce a cataract, which must then be addressed with cataract surgery.

Lifestyle choices

Both cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with the development and accelerated progression of cataracts, though the exact relationship is not always clear. Smoking can double your risk of developing a cataract compared to someone who has never smoked. While quitting smoking reduces your risk, it will still never be as low as if you had never smoked in the first place.

The relationship between alcohol and cataracts is less well defined. Some studies note an increasing risk of age-related cataract with increasing alcohol consumption. However, there is some suggestion that moderate alcohol consumption may in fact protect against cataract development.

Risk of Trauma

In addition to trauma to the lens as a side effect of a deliberate medical procedure, cataracts may also be induced from accidental trauma. This includes electrocution, chemical injury to the eye, or physical trauma, whether blunt trauma or a penetrating eye injury.

Though there are factors that can complicate cataract surgery and increase the risk of a suboptimal outcome, most cases of surgery are quick and uneventful. Cataract operations are considered to be safe and effective.

Call us now on (03) 9070 5753 for a consultation.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

how long does it take to recover from cataract surgery melbourne

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Cataract Surgery? Time of Healing

December 16, 2021/0 Comments/in Cataract Surgery /by armadaleeye

So, you’ve done the hard work, found yourself a reputable eye specialist, and are preparing yourself for cataract surgery. But then you remember that you have things to do, places to go, and people to see, and undergoing a prolonged period of cataract surgery recovery could possibly cause a sizeable dent in your busy schedule. How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery and what else do you need to know about the cataract surgery recovery period? Keep reading to find out.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Eye Cataract Surgery?

As everybody (and every eye) is different, the length of time it takes to fully recover from cataract surgery can vary from person to person. Generally speaking, many people will feel that their vision has fully stabilised and their eye is back to normal (albeit with much clearer vision), about 4 to 6 weeks after their cataract surgery procedure. However, for some people, complete cataract surgery recovery can take up to 3 months.

Many people report clear vision as quickly as several hours after undergoing cataract surgery. However, as the eye heals physically, you may find your vision can fluctuate slightly as the weeks pass. You should also expect to experience some dryness, or mild irritation of your eye immediately after your cataract surgery procedure. This should improve over the few weeks following your operation, though in some people it can persist for months.

Depending on your occupation, you may return to work as soon as within the next day or two. This is more likely with people who work in administrative or more sedentary roles. Those who work in occupations that involve exposure to dust, dirt, or other debris, or which are physically demanding or with a risk of trauma to the eye, may be advised to stay away for at least a couple of weeks.

Certain risk factors are associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing a complication from cataract surgery, which may prolong your recovery time and require further medical intervention to restore your vision. These include certain having other eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, corneal disease, or a previous retinal detachment. Older age and having had a previous eye procedure called a vitrectomy can also increase your risk of complications. If you have any disorders that tend to make you slow to heal wounds, you may also find your cataract surgery recovery to be extended.

How to Minimise Your Cataract Surgery Recovery Time?

There are certain steps you can take to optimise your healing from cataract surgery and reduce your risk of experiencing a complication during the post-operative period. These are some general guidelines. However, it is important to follow whatever specific instructions your eye surgeon has given you.

Rest as needed

As with any surgical procedure, your body needs some time to recuperate after a cataract operation. You would have been advised in advance to have someone drive you home on the day of your procedure. However, your eye surgeon may also recommend you avoid driving for a little while longer until your eye and vision have been reassessed to ensure driving is safe for you.

If possible, try to also take a break from housework or other strenuous activities. This includes carrying heavy grocery bags, physical exercise, and even vigorous mopping or vacuuming.

Take your medications

Your eye surgeon will provide you with a prescription for two or three eye drops, which can be collected from the pharmacy. They include a preventative antibiotic, a steroid drop, and possibly also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. You’ll need to use the drops several times a day for them to be properly effective, so if the dosing regimen gets confusing, try to come up with a way to help keep yourself organised. This may involve setting an alarm on your phone when your drops are due or keeping track of a chart.

All three of these drops are important in the healing process for your eye and will play a part if you’re wondering how long does it take to recover from cataract treatment surgery. Be sure to complete the full course of these drops as you’ve been recommended, even if you think your eye is already feeling better sooner than expected.

Protect your eye health from trauma and contamination

As it recovers, your eye is more vulnerable to infection and injury. Avoid any activities that can result in trauma to your eye, whether it’s playing contact sports, coming too close to your very energetic puppy, or going outdoors on a blustery day. You will also want to stay away from environments that are particularly dusty or dirty during your cataract surgery healing period.

While it’s important to keep your eye clean, you don’t need to use any soaps, detergents, or cleansers; just use clean water to gently wipe your eye. Some eye surgeons will recommend you avoid washing your hair for the first couple of days so that no shower water and shampoo accidentally run into your operated eye. During the first week after your procedure, it’s a good idea to postpone any visits to the beach, spas or saunas, and swimming pools, as these bodies of water are common sources of a particular eye infection called acanthamoeba keratitis.

Contact for more cataract surgery healing information

If at any point your eye or vision don’t feel quite right, contact your eye surgeon on (03) 9070 5753 immediately.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.