Ms Ng Lay Peng lived with blurred vision, dizzy spells and headaches for years because she thought long hours in front of a computer had worsened her short-sightedness.

“I had headaches and migraines constantly, which was frustrating because I didn’t know what the problem was,” the 48-year-old administrator said. But when her clouded vision became intolerable in March last year, she decided to get help from the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). After a series of eye checks, she was found to be suffering from cataract, an eye condition where the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy.

Cataract commonly occurs in older people due to ageing but can also affect children and young adults. The condition causes a person’s vision to blur or become foggy because the eye is unable to focus properly.

Exposure to ultraviolet light, long-term use of medication such as steroids and certain illnesses like diabetes are major risk factors of developing cataracts. Most cataracts develop slowly and do not affect vision in the early stages but can become a problem later. Vision can get so indistinct that day-to-day activities like reading and driving at night become difficult. “Sometimes, my colleagues say that they bumped into me and I didn’t say ‘hi’ to them,” said Ms Ng. “It’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s because I couldn’t see them.”

A worldwide problem

Cataract is the leading cause of impaired vision worldwide, accounting for nearly half of the world’s blind, or 18 million people, according to the World Health Organization.

A recent study done by SNEC found that more than 90 per cent of the local Chinese population above the age of 70 have cataracts. At SNEC, where most of Singapore’s cataract surgeries are performed, more than 10,000 cataract procedures are done every year. The number of people with cataracts is also expected to increase with an ageing population that is projected to double by 2020.

The first signs of cataracts are usually blurring vision and increasing short-sightedness. Colours may appear dull, and one might start seeing haloes around lights, have poor vision in bright light and experience difficulty in reading or driving at night, said Associate Professor Chee Soon Phaik, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist, Co-Head Cataract Service and Head, Ocular Inflammation and Immunology Service, SNEC.

To detect the condition early, patients should go for regular eye checks. Although the condition cannot be prevented, patients can protect their eyes from ultraviolet light by wearing sunglasses, eating a balanced diet, getting treatment for diseases such as diabetes and refraining from smoking, said Assoc Prof Chee.

Tackling cataracts early

Previously, eye specialists often waited until a cataract became “ripe” and vision deteriorated before removing it. Now, with advancements in surgery, the operation is done as soon as the patient’s vision becomes so unclear that it interferes with daily life. Procedures are usually completed within a day using a local anaesthetic.

The majority of cataract operations done at SNEC use a technique called phacoemulsification, which involves making an incision in the cornea that is so small that stitches are not necessary.

During the operation, the lens with the cataract is removed and replaced with a clear plastic lens. Called an intraocular lens implant, this plastic lens remains permanently inside the eye and can be customised to correct the patient’s vision. Surgery is suitable for most, except for those who have become virtually blind due to pre-existing conditions like severe glaucoma and macular degeneration which cannot be reversed.

A standard cataract surgery costs between $2,100 and $3,200 per eye, depending on the seniority of the eye specialist. Those who opt to have special lenses – like multi-focal ones to see far and near or toric lenses to reduce astigmatism – pay more as these are customised.

According to Assoc Prof Chee, patients recover in two to three weeks, with some not needing spectacles after the procedure. After having implants, Ms Ng now enjoys perfect vision in both eyes. “I realise that I’ve missed out on so many things,” she said. “Everything used to be blurry, but now I see clearly. It’s like a whole new world.”