An older woman squinting to read a newspaper while her daughter sits beside her

Katarak (Cataract): Tanda & Pembedahan

Katarak mata (cataract) is when the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare and faded colours. It mainly affects people aged 60 and over and develops slowly, often in both eyes. Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract: the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens, usually under local anaesthetic, and most people go home the same day and recover quickly. In Malaysia, untreated cataract is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 50 and over, even though it is treatable, so get your eyes checked if your vision is getting cloudy.

What is katarak mata (cataract)?

The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps focus light. According to the NHS, a cataract is where this lens becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision and loss of sight. It usually affects older adults (age-related cataracts), but it can also affect children.

The WHO lists cataract as one of the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness worldwide, affecting about 94 million people with distance vision impairment or blindness that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

Cataract in Malaysia

Malaysian data show that cataract is common and often left untreated:

  • In the second National Eye Survey (NESII), 15,000 Malaysians aged 50 and over were examined. Untreated cataract caused 58.6% of blindness, followed by diabetic retinopathy (10.4%) and glaucoma (6.6%). Overall, 86.3% of blindness was from avoidable causes.
  • A further analysis of the survey found cataract in 26.8% of older Malaysians. The most common reasons for not having surgery were "need not felt" (43.5%) and fear of surgery or a poor result (16.2%).

In other words, many people live with poor sight that could be improved. If cataract is affecting your daily life, talk to an eye doctor about your options.

Tanda katarak: what are the symptoms?

According to the NHS, symptoms of cataracts usually develop slowly. You will often have cataracts in both eyes, but the symptoms may be different in each eye. Symptoms include:

  • blurred or cloudy vision (penglihatan kabur);
  • difficulty seeing at night, for example when driving;
  • difficulty reading and watching television;
  • your eyes being uncomfortable in, or sensitive to, light and glare;
  • looking at 1 object but seeing 2 (double vision);
  • seeing glowing rings (halos) around lights;
  • colours looking faded, especially blue.

If you wear glasses, you may notice that you need to change your prescription more often than usual.

If your eye is red, sore or itchy, see our guide to ketumbit and mata merah.

Punca katarak: who is more likely to get it?

According to the NHS, you may be more likely to get cataracts if:

  • you are aged 60 or over;
  • you have had an eye injury or eye surgery in the past;
  • you have another eye condition, such as uveitis or being very short-sighted;
  • you have taken steroid medicines for long periods;
  • you smoke;
  • a parent, brother or sister has had cataracts;
  • you are a woman;
  • your eyes have been regularly exposed to a lot of sunlight without protection such as sunglasses.

Some long-term health conditions also increase the risk, such as type 2 diabetes, severe dermatitis (see ekzema) and high blood pressure.

Is there an ubat katarak without surgery?

Many people search for an ubat katarak or eye drops to "dissolve" cataracts. According to the NHS, surgery is the only way to get rid of cataracts.

  • Cataracts do not usually need treatment straight away.
  • Using stronger glasses and brighter light for reading may help for a while.
  • Over time, cataracts get worse, and without treatment they will eventually cause sight loss.

Be cautious of products that claim to cure cataracts without surgery. Health supplements cannot remove a cataract.

Pembedahan katarak: what happens during cataract surgery?

According to the NHS, you will need cataract surgery if you want to improve your sight once cataracts get worse. Whether and when to have it depends on how cataracts are affecting your daily life, and whether they are in one or both eyes.

What to expect:

  • Before surgery, a specialist will examine and measure your eye. If you wear contact lenses, you may need to leave them out for a few days.
  • The operation is usually done under local anaesthetic (eye drops, an injection or both), so you are awake but should not feel pain, and you can usually eat and drink as normal beforehand.
  • The surgeon makes a tiny opening in the front of the eye, may use ultrasound to break up the cloudy lens, removes it with suction and places a clear plastic lens inside.
  • The operation usually takes 20 to 45 minutes, and you can usually go home the same day, but do not drive yourself home.
  • If you have cataracts in both eyes, they will be treated on separate days.

In Malaysia, cataract surgery is available at government hospitals with eye departments and at private eye centres. Ask your eye doctor about waiting times and costs.

Recovering from cataract surgery

According to the NHS, most people recover quickly. After surgery:

  • your vision may be blurry for a few hours because of the drops used to widen your pupil;
  • your eye may hurt for a few days, and it may take several days for your vision to improve;
  • you will usually use eye drops for about 4 weeks to help healing and prevent infection;
  • you may need a plastic shield to protect your eye at night;
  • you may still need glasses for reading or distance, and your prescription may change.

Until your eye has healed or your doctor says otherwise, the NHS advises:

Do Do not
Follow the instructions about your dressing Rub your eye
Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed Drive until your vision is back to normal
Wear an eye shield or glasses in windy weather Do heavy lifting or play sports
Wear sunglasses if lights seem brighter than normal Wear eye make-up, get water in your eye or go swimming

Possible complications and warning signs

According to the NHS, cataract surgery is usually successful and serious complications are rare. Possible complications include problems with vision, a detached retina, an eye infection, bleeding or inflammation, or problems with the position of the new lens. Sometimes vision becomes cloudy again months or years later; this is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

See your eye doctor or optometrist if your vision becomes cloudy or blurry, your eye becomes red or painful, or bright light becomes uncomfortable. Get urgent help if floaters or flashes of light suddenly appear, a dark "curtain" or shadow moves across your vision, or your vision suddenly gets blurred; these can be signs of a detached retina.

Cataracts in children

Cataracts can also affect babies and children. According to the NHS, for children with cataracts, surgery is usually done as soon as possible to help their vision develop properly. The WHO notes that congenital cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment in children in low-income countries.

Can you lower your risk?

You cannot change your age or family history, but based on the risk factors listed by the NHS, you can:

  • wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from strong sunlight, which matters in Malaysia's climate;
  • not smoke;
  • manage long-term conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure with your doctor;
  • use steroid medicines only as prescribed, and ask your doctor if you have used them for a long time;
  • protect your eyes from injury.

These steps address known risk factors, but they cannot guarantee that you will not develop cataracts.

When should you get your eyes checked?

According to the NHS, see an optician (an optometrist) if you have symptoms of cataracts; if they think you have cataracts, they will refer you to an eye specialist. In Malaysia, you can also see a doctor at a klinik kesihatan for a referral to a hospital eye clinic. If you have diabetes, regular eye checks are also important, as diabetic retinopathy is another major cause of blindness in Malaysia.

According to the NHS, you may still be able to drive if your vision is good enough; ask your optometrist if you are not sure.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is katarak mata (cataract)?

A cataract is when the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision and, without treatment, loss of sight. According to the NHS, it usually affects older adults, often in both eyes, and can be treated with surgery.

What are the early signs of cataract?

According to the NHS, symptoms develop slowly and include blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, difficulty reading or watching television, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision, seeing halos around lights, and colours looking faded. You may also need to change your glasses prescription more often than usual.

Can eye drops or supplements cure cataract (ubat katarak)?

No. According to the NHS, surgery is the only way to get rid of cataracts. Stronger glasses and brighter light for reading may help for a while, but cataracts get worse over time. Be cautious of products that claim to dissolve cataracts without surgery.

Is cataract surgery (pembedahan katarak) painful?

Cataract surgery is usually done under a local anaesthetic, given as eye drops, an injection or both, so you are awake but should not feel pain. The cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens; the operation usually takes 20 to 45 minutes and you can usually go home the same day.

How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?

Most people recover quickly. According to the NHS, your vision may be blurry for a few hours, your eye may hurt for a few days, and it may take several days for your vision to improve. You will usually use eye drops for about 4 weeks, and should not rub your eye, drive until your vision is back to normal, lift heavy things, swim or get water in your eye.

Who is more likely to get cataracts?

According to the NHS, you are more likely to get cataracts if you are aged 60 or over, have had an eye injury or eye surgery, have taken steroid medicines for a long time, smoke, have a family history of cataracts, are a woman, have had a lot of sun exposure without sunglasses, or have long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

How common is cataract in Malaysia?

In Malaysia's second National Eye Survey of 15,000 people aged 50 and over, untreated cataract caused 58.6% of blindness, and 86.3% of blindness was from avoidable causes. A related analysis found cataract in 26.8% of older Malaysians, and the most common reason for not having surgery was not feeling the need for it.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or eye specialist. Only an eye examination can diagnose a cataract. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

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