A look at how far we have come with treatment for Cataracts.

This month is Cataract awareness Month.  A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye, leading to decreased vision. Cataracts typically develop slowly over time and are often associated with aging, although they can also result from injury, certain medications, medical conditions like diabetes, or prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred or hazy vision, increased sensitivity to glare, difficulty seeing at night, and seeing halos around lights. The treatment for cataract in surgical intervention.

Spare a thought for the ancient Egyptians who were the first to record surgical attempts to remove cataracts. Throughout history, various cultures experimented with different methods, including couching, where the cataract was displaced within the eye, albeit with limited success and high risk of complications.

Surgical innovation has come a long way since then, but it was not that long ago, the 1960s, cataract surgery patients had to lie for days in darkened hospital rooms with their heads surrounded by sandbags to keep them from moving.

Today, cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures worldwide. It is a day only procedure with improvements to vision noted from the first day after surgery.  With ongoing advancements in technology and techniques, the future of cataract surgery holds promise for even greater precision and patient satisfaction.