CATARACTS

MISTY vision like this is typical of cataracts. ‘Usually, someone will notice their vision isn’t quite as good — perhaps a bit blurry — and think that they need new glasses,’ says Damian Lake, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. Other signs include sensitivity to light (bright sunlight or car headlamps may give off more glare) or everything looking ‘washed out’. Age is by far the most common cause, but the process can be accelerated by exposure to the sun. Diabetes can make cataracts more likely, too, says Mr Lake — excess glucose makes the lens swell and contract, affecting fibres that let the light through.

People with severe asthma are also at risk, as the steroids they must take can affect proteins that keep the lens clear. Short-sightedness is another risk: the eyeball shape (rugby ball, rather than football) means that the lens fibres could be stretched.