Cataracts can be hereditary, as parents may pass down genetic mutations that cause the disease. However, most cases of cataracts are due to the cumulative effects of lifelong environmental exposures and aging. Cataract surgery is an effective and safe treatment for the condition.
However, the development of cataracts earlier in life does happen. These are known as early-onset cataracts and can even run in the family. If a close relative had cataracts earlier in life, there's a chance other family members will inherit cataracts as well.
Most cataracts are related to age — they happen because of normal changes in your eyes as you get older. But you can get cataracts for other reasons — like after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye problem (like glaucoma).
Cataracts are a common condition, especially for older people. Cataracts typically begin developing in people age 40 years and older but don't usually begin to impair vision until after age 60. However, younger people can develop cataracts, too.
Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors. Reduce alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of cataracts.
This might all sound serious, but cataract surgery is the most commonly performed elective procedure in Australia, with the average age for surgery being just under 76 years¹, and 90% of cataract operations performed on those aged 60 years and over ².
But is there such a thing as having cataract surgery too early or too late? Not exactly. While cataracts can be removed at any stage of development, Medicare and private insurance carriers will only cover the procedure when cataracts have begun to impact a patient's life as described above.
Making healthy lifestyle choices can certainly help in the prevention of cataracts and support your overall health, but it won't reverse the condition. Eye drops and apple cider vinegar likewise won't reverse cataracts. Currently, surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts.
Cataracts usually develop slowly, and you may not have any symptoms at first. They can affect one eye only or both eyes. Eventually, cataracts can make your vision blurred or distorted, make you sensitive to light and glare, or give you the sense of seeing double.
Patients who have undergone Cataract surgery in one eye will have clearer vision compared to the affected eye which increases the pressure on the treated eye. The increased pressure on a single eye can be stressful.
Cloudy or blurry vision
This is the most common symptom of cataracts. It can affect both distance and reading vision which may appear foggy. If left untreated, the clouding of the lens means the cataract will worsen, with less light able to get through the lens.
Although Original Medicare doesn't cover routine vision care, it does help pay for cataract surgery if it's done using traditional surgical techniques or lasers. This is through Medicare Part B , the medical insurance portion of Original Medicare.
Glasses are not a means to treat cataracts but rather a way to circumvent the disease for a time. A new prescription may restore blurry vision for a moment but does not have any effect on the cataract. Eventually, a cataractous lens will win out and can go so far as to cause blindness if not removed.
In studies, between 60% and 88% of patients who have cataract surgery with a MultiFocal lens report that they never wear glasses. For cataract patients who value their ability to see clearly at a range of distances without glasses, a MultiFocal IOL can be a great option.
Your risk of complications is greater if you have another eye disease or a serious medical condition. Occasionally, cataract surgery fails to improve vision because of underlying eye damage from other conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare? Many, but not all, costs incurred for cataract surgery are covered by Australia's Medicare system. The Medicare safety net only applies to items that attract a Medicare benefit, and only to medical care provided in the clinic.
Cataract surgery costs vary from clinic-to-clinic and it's almost impossible to single out which offers the best treatment. You can expect to pay anything between £1,500-4,500 depending on the clinic. The most expensive cataract surgery costs around £4,500 for a multifocal lens at Centre for Sight.
The full recovery period for cataract surgery typically lasts around 8 weeks, during which you will likely have several follow-up appointments with your eye doctor to ensure proper healing. While the full recovery period lasts around two months, 9 out of 10 patients are seeing better immediately following surgery.
Currently, there are no treatment plans to prevent or slow cataract prevention. However, while there are no clinically proven approaches for cataract prevention, some prevention strategies can include: Decreasing or stopping smoking. Monitoring your exposure to sunlight through UV-blocking lenses.
People with low blood levels of antioxidants and those who eat few antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables have been reported to be at high risk for cataracts. Vitamin B2 and vitamin B3 are needed to protect glutathione, an important antioxidant in the eye. Vitamin B2 deficiency has been linked to cataracts.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, so it's important to protect yourself however you can.