Cataracts explained: What they are and why you shouldn't ignore them

YOU'D be forgiven for thinking cataracts are an “old person’s problem”.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

But more South Africans are being diagnosed with cataracts much earlier in life and it’s affecting how they live, work and drive, especially at night.

As WE mark Cataract Awareness Month, it’s a good time to bring our eye health back into focus because the truth is, cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness, according to the World Health Organization, yet they're also one of the most treatable.

Simply put, cataracts happen when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, almost like someone smeared Vaseline on your glasses. Wesley Language, an optometrist from Execuspecs, explains, “It’s like looking through a foggy window. Over time, it distorts your vision, dulls colours and makes tasks like reading or recognising faces difficult.”