five myths about cataracts and cataract surgery
in canada, more than 2.5 million people have cataracts. here are some common myths and facts.
3 minute read
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the word “cataract” is derived from the latin word cataracta, meaning waterfall. similar to the white appearance of rapidly descending water, the term was used metaphorically to describe the white opacities that form in a mature human lens. a cloudy lens leads to blurring of vision, decrease in contrast sensitivity, yellowed vision with dulled colours, and difficulties with night vision and glare.
cataracts are the leading cause of treatable blindness globally — in canada, more than 2.5 million people have them. and even though cataracts develop slowly, and cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgeries, understanding the signs and symptoms is the best way to protect your eyes. there are many myths around cataracts and cataract surgery, but here are the top five.
myth: cataracts only happen to the elderly
fact: it is a common misconception that cataracts only affect those who are older, however, although aging is one of the primary causes of cataract formation, it’s certainly not the only one. in fact, cataracts can occur at any age and even be present at birth — this is known as a congenital cataract. other causes of cataract formation include uncontrolled diabetes, trauma, ocular inflammation, steroid intake, drug toxicity and other medical conditions. although cataracts develop slowly, with time, they will affect your vision, so it’s important to know the warning signs, and talk to an eye doctor about any vision changes, so they can make a diagnosis and begin treatment.
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myth: eye exercises, diet modifications and drops can treat cataracts
fact: while it’s true that exercise, a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants, smoking cessation and wearing sunglasses have been shown to slow the progression of cataracts, once a cataract begins interfering with your everyday activities such as driving, reading or playing sports, surgery is the most effective treatment option. in the early stages, mild symptoms can be managed without surgery by using anti-glare eyeglasses and magnifying lenses.
myth: a cataract needs to be “ripe” before i have surgery
fact: back in the late 1970s, cataract surgery shifted to a small incision suture-less technique. prior to that, cataracts had to be manually removed through a large incision in the eye. the old technique imposed a high risk of potential complications due to infection or inflammation and an overall poorer prognosis for visual recovery.
the term “ripening” was used to help define the right time to have surgery — basically, determining the ripeness of a cataract was used to delay surgery for as long as possible in order to offset the risks. but with significant advances in surgical technique and technology, a natural eye lens with any degree of dysfunction can be safely removed and replaced with a lens implant with a high success rate. the decision to perform surgery is based on the risks versus the benefits balanced against how the cataract interferes with personal lifestyle. it’s also recommended not to wait until the cataract is hyper-mature, which potentially makes the surgery more difficult and introduces higher risk.
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myth: cataract will grow back
fact: during cataract surgery, the cloudy lens will be completely removed from your eye and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant. once removed, cataracts will not grow back. what can sometimes occur is a gradual clouding of the container (capsule) that supports the lens implant in place after surgery. this cloudy membrane is called posterior capsular opacity (pco), also known as an “after cataract.” this cloudy membrane is easily removed with a low risk, quick and painless laser procedure, which once performed, the opacities will not grow back.
myth: cataract surgery is painful
fact: there is little or no discomfort during cataract surgery. the surgery is done under mild sedation with local anesthesia. patients are comfortable throughout the procedure, which usually takes about 10 minutes, and many report seeing a light show of beautiful colours throughout the surgery. after the procedure, you may be asked to wear an eye patch and be prescribed eyedrops for your operated eye.
dr. harleen bedi is an ophthalmologist who also specializes in cataract surgery, eyelid plastic surgery and orbital reconstruction. she runs a medical and aesthetics practice in brampton, mississauga, and oakville, and can be reached at info@drhbedi.com and on instagram @eyeplasticsto.
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