Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. As you age, proteins in your lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy.You may not even realize you have a cataract because it usually grows very slowly and may not impede vision early on. While cataracts are rarely dangerous, after several years they will likely affect vision.

By age 65, over 90 percent of people have a cataract and half of the people between the ages of 75 and 85 have lost some vision due to a cataract. A cataract is not caused by overuse of your eyes and it does not travel from one eye to the other.

Symptoms

• A decrease in the clarity of vision that is not correctable with glasses
• Colours that appear faded or washed out 
• Sensitivity to light, glare, and halos around lights
•  Frequent changes to eyeglass prescriptions
• An ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to diagnose a cataract during a dilated eye examination

Most cataracts are treatable with cataract surgery. If cataract surgery is not an option, it is important to be able to magnify text and objects, so they are large enough to be visible outside the clouded central vision area.

Our selection of video magnifiers and screen magnification software can help with this:

Desktop CCTVs  magnifiers provide low vision aid for a full range of visual needs. The CCTV magnifiers are generally a combination of a customized camera, mount arm for steady hands-free positioning of the camera, a viewing screen/monitor, lenses with the ability to zoom (sometime as great as 82x magnification), and viewing modes with lighting, colour, and contrast modes for optimal visual assistance. There is often a viewing platform, which allows easy positioning of the item, book, or image to be magnified.

Electronic Handheld Magnifiers are small, lightweight electronic magnifier that are easy-to -use. Due to their compact size, it is easy to carry them along anywhere you go. You can magnify and increase contrast on the spot. Use a portable video magnifier on the go to read price labels, maps, bus schedules, directions and your favourite restaurant menu.

Screen Magnification Software  provides screen magnification and screen reading for low vision computer users.

The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.