Cataracts rank among the most frequent problems affecting peoples eyes, touching millions around the world. Even with modern screening and surgical tools, old myths still cling to the condition. Eye-care specialists urge everyone to sift truth from tale if they want better sight.
June is observed as Cataract awareness month to educate the public about Cataracts, which is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Myth 1: Special eye drops or health remedies can cure cataracts
Well, these habits may slow growth but cannot erase a lens cloud once it forms. Still, people think that using magic drops, taking extra vitamins, or a cleaner diet can wash cataracts away. Medical professionals stress that real relief comes only through the small, planned surgery that replaces the cloudy lens.
Myth 2: The operation is long and horribly painful
Most minds picture a bloody, drawn-out theatre scene, yet cataract surgery is fast and gentle. Completed in about ten to fifteen minutes, it usually takes place in a room just off the clinic waiting area. Patients feel little more than pressure, thanks to modern numbing methods and clear-step guidance before, during, and after the procedure.
Myth 3: Cataracts only affect the elderly
A lot of people link cataracts with old age because that is when they show up most often. Yet the cloudy lens can appear in babies, kids, and even twenty-somethings. Trauma, some drugs, or diseases like diabetes are usually behind these early cataracts.
Myth 4: Cataract surgery is only safe in winters
Many people delay the surgery, thinking it is safe in the winter. In reality, eye doctors say the operation can be done safely any time of the year. With modern operation theatres, advanced sterilization techniques, and controlled indoor environments, the success and safety of cataract surgery do not depend on weather. What really counts is how fast the lens clouding gets worse and whether clear sight is urgently needed.
Myth 5: Cataracts can grow back after surgery
Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial one; that original cataract never comes back. Over time, though, the thin membrane keeping the new lens in place can thicken and blur sight. Called posterior capsular opacification, it is easy to fix with a quick, painless laser job done in the office.
Cataracts are quite easy to fix today, and the latest techniques give most people clear, sharp sight. Myths that scare patients or push them to wait only hurt in the long run; learning the facts leads to quicker help and stronger vision. If you or someone close notices blurry patches, bright halos, or trouble with fine print, schedule an eye exam soon. Only an eye specialist can pinpoint the problem and map out the right care for you.
Dr Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), Consultant & Eye Surgeon, Neytra Eye Centre, New Delhi
June is observed as Cataract awareness month to educate the public about Cataracts, which is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Myth 1: Special eye drops or health remedies can cure cataracts
Well, these habits may slow growth but cannot erase a lens cloud once it forms. Still, people think that using magic drops, taking extra vitamins, or a cleaner diet can wash cataracts away. Medical professionals stress that real relief comes only through the small, planned surgery that replaces the cloudy lens.
Myth 2: The operation is long and horribly painful
Most minds picture a bloody, drawn-out theatre scene, yet cataract surgery is fast and gentle. Completed in about ten to fifteen minutes, it usually takes place in a room just off the clinic waiting area. Patients feel little more than pressure, thanks to modern numbing methods and clear-step guidance before, during, and after the procedure.
Myth 3: Cataracts only affect the elderly
A lot of people link cataracts with old age because that is when they show up most often. Yet the cloudy lens can appear in babies, kids, and even twenty-somethings. Trauma, some drugs, or diseases like diabetes are usually behind these early cataracts.
Myth 4: Cataract surgery is only safe in winters
Many people delay the surgery, thinking it is safe in the winter. In reality, eye doctors say the operation can be done safely any time of the year. With modern operation theatres, advanced sterilization techniques, and controlled indoor environments, the success and safety of cataract surgery do not depend on weather. What really counts is how fast the lens clouding gets worse and whether clear sight is urgently needed.
Myth 5: Cataracts can grow back after surgery
Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial one; that original cataract never comes back. Over time, though, the thin membrane keeping the new lens in place can thicken and blur sight. Called posterior capsular opacification, it is easy to fix with a quick, painless laser job done in the office.
Cataracts are quite easy to fix today, and the latest techniques give most people clear, sharp sight. Myths that scare patients or push them to wait only hurt in the long run; learning the facts leads to quicker help and stronger vision. If you or someone close notices blurry patches, bright halos, or trouble with fine print, schedule an eye exam soon. Only an eye specialist can pinpoint the problem and map out the right care for you.
Dr Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), Consultant & Eye Surgeon, Neytra Eye Centre, New Delhi
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