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A cataract is a clouding of the lens. The optic lens is a transparent structure in the eyes which focuses light onto the retina; the transparency of the lens is important because it allows light into your eye so that you can see. A cataract occurs when the lens begins to cloud and becomes more opaque, allowing less light into your eye. Cataracts are thought to be the leading cause of blindness, according to one study, accounting for a third of all cases globally.
At Kings Hill Opticians, we typically see around 100 cataracts a year among our patients from Kings Hill, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and West Malling.
Cataract is a multifactorial disease, with several risk factors increasing the likelihood of development. Prevalence increases with age and the condition is more common in women than in men. Other factors which increase the chance of development include:
Initial symptoms include:
If it feels like you are wearing glasses that need cleaning, even if you don’t or they have been cleaned, then you may need to seek medical advice.
Retinoscopy is an important test in detecting the effect of cataracts, which is traditionally performed with a retinoscope; a simple light is shone into the eye which an optometrist uses to determine a suitable prescription for your lenses by observing the way in which your optic lens refracts the light. This procedure, which is a routine part of all standard eye tests, can also reveal cataracts.
In many practises, the use of a retinoscope has been phased out in favour of an Autorefractor, which is helpful in determining your prescription. However, it doesn’t allow you an opportunity to clinically assess the reflex to detect any cataracts and the impact on your vision, that’s why we stick with the old-school retinoscope.
The main ways to reduce your chances of developing cataracts are to manage your risk factors. If you smoke, try to stop or reduce how many cigarettes you take each day. If you have Type 2 diabetes, do what you can to reduce your symptoms, keep fit and try to eat a balanced diet. You can read more about the effects of diabetes on your eyes here and Diabetes UK has lots of helpful information on managing your condition.
UVB light is strongly linked to cataract development, so ensure that you shield your eyes; wear a protective hat or polarizing sunglasses such as our stunning Maui Jim sunglasses, with or without a prescription.
As you get older, cataracts get worse and it may be time to think about treatment. Currently, surgery is the only treatment that’s proven to be effective at curing cataracts, and is the most common operation performed in the UK according to the NHS. No scientific evidence suggests that medicines or eyedrops are effective at improving cataracts.
Cataract surgery usually only takes 30 to 45 minutes and is performed under local anaesthetic. This means you should be able to go home the same day as the operation, which involves making a tiny incision into the eye to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a transparent plastic one. These replacement lenses are usually monofocal – meaning they have a single point of focus, near or far. If you go private, you may be able to choose a multifocal, astigmatic or accommodating lens, which may allow the eye to focus on both near and far objects.
Cataracts are a real risk to a high proportion of people living in the UK, but modern surgery is a safe and reliable solution. If we identify that you have or are developing cataracts, we will ensure that you are referred to the correct medical professional to ensure you enjoy the best eye health possible.
Open day: Your most comfortable pair of glasses - unique to you
Kings Hill Opticians are delighted to be one of only a handful of practices in the country to be able to offer patients the dispensing revolution of VisiOffice X. This 3D, cutting-edge technology redefines optics dispensing to create bespoke glasses for each patient, offering the clearest, most natural vision possible.
15/05/2019
Have Age-related Macular Degeneration? We may have the answer
If you or a loved one suffer from AMD, you may be resigned to poor vision. But you don’t need to be! Our innovative E-Scoop lenses can be amazing at improving vision for AMD sufferers, giving them a new lease of life.
13/03/2019
Night driving with confidence
Do you find driving in the dark difficult? We have the solutions to get your night-driving confidence back, especially during these long winter evenings.
27/02/2019
Don't give up on your New Year's resolutions, they're great for your eye health
How are your New Year's resolutions going? We're mid-February and many of you may have forgotten about them, but we've got a reason to motivate you to help keep on track: New Year's resolutions can be great for your eye health. Our guide will help strengthen your resolve to help you stick to your guns.
20/02/2019
An award-winning start to the year
We've kicked off 2019 with a flying start, being shortlisted as finalists for the national Opticians Awards 2019 and winning Essilor's National Bespoke Varilux Practice of the Year!
13/02/2019
How to look after your eyes on the ski slopes this winter
If you're planning on hitting the slopes this winter, it is important to look after your eyes. Ultra violet light can be more powerful on the ski slopes because of the snow's reflectiveness, so it's vital that you prepare properly and get the right protection. Our expert opticians explain the dangers high levels of exposure can cause, and what you need to do to look after your eyes.
19/12/2018
How our interest-free credit can benefit you this Christmas
We all know that the main role of glasses is to enable you to see clearly, but they become part of your face and personality, so it’s important that they make you feel and look fabulous as well.
05/12/2018
Optician stopped me having a major stroke
As seen on South East News on Saturday Evening,....
03/12/2018
How copper mesh lenses help you look after your eyes
Copper mesh spectacle lenses are a revolutionary product that can help with a whole range of eye conditions, many of which are aggravated at this time of year, when we spend more time indoors with drying central heating and working by electric light for more hours of the day. If you suffer from tired eyes, headaches, motion sickness, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or even reading difficulties, they could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
28/11/2018
Alcohol Awareness Week, the problems of being blind drunk
Alcohol Awareness Week, running between the 19 and 25 November, aims to encourage people to change their relationships with drink. We all know that drinking too much can have serious consequences on your health, but did you know that it can also impact your eye health?
21/11/2018
Looking after your eyes this winter
Winter can be a magical time for everybody. To make sure it is kept that way, we've put together a short guide on the signs to look out for to ensure you keep on top of your eye health during the colder months so that you don't run into any future problems.
14/11/2018
World Diabetes Day, diabetes and eye health
World Diabetes Day on 14 November is seeing to raise awareness about the disease to help people prevent, spot and manage it more successfully. The link between diabetes and eye health is profound: blurred and variable vision can be one of the first signs of diabetes, and diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness.
07/11/2018
Kings Hill Opticians Saved My Life
14/09/2018
2018 Sports Sunglasses range
16/03/2018
Opticians awards 2018
We are delighted to be selected for the Finals of the National Awards as Independent Practice of the Year.
16/02/2018
Read About us in the papers!
See what the news has to say about us
08/12/2017
Copper Mesh Spectacle Lenses to help eliminate glare and eyestrain
17/11/2016
Eyezen lenses: relaxing eyes to help protect visual health
Eyezen focus reduces eyestrain and improves small character readability. Light scan reduces glare, improves contrast and helps prevent premature aging of your eyes.
07/03/2016
New hope for Macular Degeneration Suffers
06/07/2015
Crizal Prevencia
Blocks UV + Harmful Blue-Violet light (transmitted by modern digital devices) and helps prevent premature eye ageing
28/03/2014
Diagnosis error revealed 15 years on
A KINGS Hill woman who has been treated for an eye condition for 15 years has found out she never suffered from the illness.
06/08/2012
I was lucky not to lose my eyesight
WAITING for her father-in-law at an opticians’ appointment, Susan Stratful began trying on some frames.
05/08/2012