If a member of your family has cataracts the best course of action is to take them first of all to have the diagnosis confirmed. This can be done at your local eye hospital. Once the eye doctor has been able to carry out some tests they can advise you and your family member on the best course of action. It can be very difficult to live with cataracts and it is important that treatment is sought as soon as possible. If the condition is caught early enough there may well be treatment available that can prevent the condition from getting worse and avoids the need for further hospital treatment.

Cataracts are not a life threatening condition however they can make day to day living quite difficult. As well as being unable to carry out normal everyday tasks, people with severe cataracts also can no longer see fine detail or even peoples faces. Colours can also become dull and blurred or double vision can occur. There is very effective treatment available, so there is no need for anyone to suffer with cataracts on a continued basis.

A refractive lens exchange is one such treatment that is ideal for people over 50 suffering from cataracts. It is a very simple procedure that involves the existing hardening, cloudy lens of the eye being broken up and removed altogether. A custom designed artificial lens gets put in its place. The new lens is completely clear so eye sight is restored almost immediately. Because the replacement lens is artificial it can never again become cloudy or hardened. With a refractive lens exchange the cataract is dealt with once and for all. Having a custom made lens also means that an additional refractive error can be corrected at the same time. If for example your family member has always relied on glasses due to myopia, also known as shortsightedness, then the new lens can be developed to help correct this problem too. From a lifetime of glasses wearing and cataracts to totally clear youthful vision in just one day, is what a refractive lens exchange can achieve.

Sometimes people are wary about making visits to the eye hospital or undergoing treatment. There is no need with a refractive lens exchange. It takes literally a few minutes per eye and there is no unwanted overnight stay in a hospital involved. After the procedure the patient is free to go home and relax. The patient will notice an immediate improvement to their eyesight which will continue to improve and become sharper over the next few weeks. If your family member is nervous about the procedure, talk it through with them. Explain that they will not feel a thing during the procedure and they can return to the comfort of their home almost immediately after so they can have a few days to rest their eyes completely.

Most patients who undergo a refractive lens exchange find themselves back at work two to three days following the treatment. There is minimal disruption to everyday life with a RLE. When you go with your family member to the eye hospital for the initial consultation you can explain their worries to the eye doctor. They will be able to answer your questions and put your minds at rest. It is natural to be a little wary of undergoing a procedure on the eyes, however cataract surgery is very safe and very effective. A refractive lens exchange is a very popular type of treatment used widely throughout the UK.

If you suspect your family member has cataracts you should book an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Cataracts will only get worse if left untreated and they can make viewing things both up close and far away difficult. People with cataracts often cannot drive a car, read newspapers or take part in activities. A cataract operation is not very disruptive and can be completed within one day. Aside from a follow up visit a few days after treatment, life can return to normal more or less immediately. The cataract surgery cost, details and procedure will be explained fully by your eye doctor.