Your eye health is important
Keeping an eye on your eye health is important… and we’re on hand to help.
One of the specialisms here at St Hugh’s Hospital is cataract surgery – an operation that can take as little as 20 minutes and will help you see clearly again.
Today marks World Sight Day, and with this year’s theme being #LoveYourEyes, we’ve taken this opportunity to tell you about how we might be able to help you.
A cataract occurs when the natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy; this is usually caused by ageing. The natural lens in your eye helps you to see clearly by focusing the light rays entering your eye. A cataract causes blurred vision or changes the focus. If your vision is severely affected, this can interfere with your daily activities, including reading, watching television, and driving.
New glasses may improve your vision to some extent but if the cataract is too advanced, glasses will not help. Your surgeon (ophthalmologist) will assess you and tell you if cataract surgery is suitable. Leaving a cataract untreated does not threaten your vision straight away but it can be disabling.
The operation is usually performed under a local anaesthetic given as eye drops. The operation usually takes about 20 minutes and involves removing the cataract and replacing it with an artificial lens implant.
According to the World Sight Day campaign, organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), almost everyone on the planet will experience an eye health issue in their lifetime.
#LoveYourEyes is all about being aware of your own eye health. Our eyes can also tell us so much about our general health, so if you are able to, get a sight test or recommend others do the same.
The IAPB is asking people to be mindful of the following points when it comes to our eyes and vision:
PREVENT: Many eye diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eating a healthy balanced diet is often the crucial step in maintaining a healthy weight, controlling obesity, and preventing diseases such as diabetes, all of which can impact eye health.
PROTECT: It is equally important to protect and take care of your eyes. The risk ranges from severe sunlight and workplace accidents to prolonged exposure to screens at homes.
PRESERVE: Plan for-and get-a regular comprehensive eye examination.
PRIORITISE: Consider #LoveYourEyes as a lifelong mission!
So the message today is #LoveYourEyes! For more information about what we can offer for people with cataracts, visit https://hmtsthughs.org/treatment/cataract-surgery-phacoemulsification