Keep a check on eyes to spot cataracts

Advice on signs to look out for

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An eye specialist has urged people to keep up-to-date with regular eye appointments to help spot early signs of cataracts.

The advice comes as part of Cataracts Awareness Month in June.

Currently, nearly a third of over 65s in the UK have cataracts that impair their vision - affecting over 670,000 people. Spotting early signs can ensure healthy vision and independence well into old age and can be treated with cataract surgery via the NHS or privately.

Consultant Ophthalmologist Charles Kanavati, Medical and Clinical Director of Ophthalmology at Practice Plus Group - which has an Ophthalmology Centre at Croft Shifa Health Centre, Rochdale - says it's important to know when to seek help and how to spot early signs of something potentially more serious. He urges people to keep up with routine eye screenings to help prevent blindness caused by this condition.

He said: "Our eye health is critical to enjoying our lives and also to maintaining independence as we grow older. Events like Cataracts Awareness Month are vital in bringing attention to this common eye condition.

"Changes in our eyes can occur naturally with age so spotting early signs of conditions such as cataracts is vital to ensuring healthy vision.

"Cataracts occur when the lens on our eyes starts to form cloudy patches, which can become worse over time and begin to limit our vision - even causing blindness."