A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read and drive a car (especially at night). Most cataracts develop slowly and don’t disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision. At first, stronger lighting and glasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of cataracts include clouded, blurred or dim vision, increasing difficulty with vision at night, sensitivity to light and glare, need for brighter light for reading, seeing “halos” around lights, frequent changes in prescription, fading or yellowing of colours and double vision.
Most cataracts develop when ageing or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye’s lens. Cataracts generally develop in both eyes, but not evenly. The cataract in one eye may be more advanced than the other, causing a difference in vision between eyes.
Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include Increasing age, diabetes, excessive exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, previous eye injury or inflammation, previous eye surgery, prolonged use of corticosteroid medications and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
To decrease your risk of cataracts or delay early cataracts from progressing, ultraviolet protection is imperative.
Torga Optical offers a range of sun tints and ultra-violet (UV) protection coatings. The colour of the tint will vary depending on your lifestyle and/or preferred sport.
- Grey/smoke – great for sunny days as they reduce brightness without colour distortion.
- Brown – reduce brightness and enhance contrast.
- Green/grey-green – these enhance colours and contrast while also reducing brightness.
- Rose/amber – enhance contrast, working well in low-light conditions where one might need help seeing shapes and objects.
- Yellow – good contrast and depth enhancement properties, working well in flat light, foggy or overcast conditions.
- Copper – sharper contrast and definition by filtering blue light and reducing road glare while driving.
Torga Optical offers only the best technology photochromic. Photochromic lenses are optical lenses that darken when exposed to specific types of light and light brightness, specifically ultraviolet (UV) light. In the absence of light, the lenses return to their clear state. Torga’s Flexi-Tint lenses offer great performance in all temperatures.
What can you expect when a Torga Optometrist examines your eyes?
The Torga Optometrist will perform several tests on your vision and will screen your eyes for cataracts. The results of your test will be explained to you to give you a better understanding of your eye health and of any prescriptions that are recommended to help make your vision clearer and comfortable to suit your lifestyle and image. Torga Optical works closely with eye specialists. So, if after having your eyes examined by a Torga optometrist you need to be referred, you will be done so to doctors with whom we work closely.
Torga Optical Cornubia Mall: Shop U08 Cornubia Shopping Mall, 031 502 1658
Torga Optical Ballito Junction: Shop 641, Ballito Junction, Ballito, 032 9461416/7
Torga Optical Kwadukuza Mall: Shop 19, Kwadukuza Mall, 010 023 2549 (Local Stanger Number)