Ophthalmologist Dr Chng Nai Wee of Mount Alvernia Medical Centre explains the common age-related eye condition cataracts, and whether there is an optimal time to remove a cataract: What causes a cataract and what are its symptoms? Most are caused by the ageing process during which lens proteins degrade over time. Yellow-brown pigments deposit in the lens, reducing light transmission and causing them to become opaque. The cumulative effects of ultra-violet exposure, radiation and toxins also take their toll. Vision becomes cloudy, colours become murky, and looking at a bright spot of light causes glare. The eye may become more short-sighted and night vision is reduced. Some patients complain of double vision, making it difficult for them to carry out daily tasks like driving. Some doctors advise patients to wait till the cataract is ripe before seeking surgery. Is there an optimal time to remove a cataract? Previously, cataract surgeries were relatively crude and risky with longer recovery periods. Doctors had to weigh the medical benefits, risks and the patients expectations of the gain in vision versus the cost and experience of undergoing surgery only when the odds of success and patient satisfaction were high. Therefore, the concept of ripe was an easily understood layman term that was handily tossed during counselling. Nowadays, in a skilled ophthalmologists hands, patients can recover their vision just one day after surgery and the degree of refractive correction is precise. The term ripe is thus less relevant today. The optimal time to remove the cataract would be when the patient feels that his lifestyle and work are affected by the poor vision caused by the condition.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 08:40:19 +0000
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