Cataracts are a common age-related condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. They are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which sits behind the iris and pupil. This clouding scatters light as it enters the eye, causing blurry vision, a loss of colour perception, and increased difficulty with activities like reading and driving.
How cataracts affect daily life
Cataracts affect daily life in many ways, gradually eroding a person’s independence and ability to enjoy hobbies. Early symptoms may be subtle, such as needing brighter light to read or noticing a glare from headlights at night. However, as the cataracts mature, these issues become more pronounced.
Activities like driving can become hazardous due to reduced night vision and a heightened sensitivity to bright lights. Reading becomes a strain, and hobbies such as knitting or painting, which rely on clear vision, may become difficult or even impossible. This loss of independence can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation, as individuals may have to rely on others for transportation and assistance with daily tasks.
The loss of colour
One of the most profound effects of cataracts is the loss of colour perception. The world can appear faded, yellowish, or dull. This change in vision is often so gradual that people may not realise the full extent of their colour loss until after cataract surgery. The world suddenly looks vibrant and new again, as if a filter has been removed.
The famous French Impressionist painter Claude Monet provides a striking example of this. As he aged, cataracts severely affected his vision, and his work from that period reflects this. He struggled to distinguish colours, and his paintings became murkier, with a predominance of red and yellow tones and less of the vibrant blues and purples that characterised his earlier works. Monet himself described the world as a ‘fog of yellow,’ and some art historians believe his later paintings demonstrate a form of colour blindness, likely caused by his cataracts.
The good news
The good news is that cataracts are treatable. Cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure that involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear, artificial one. This procedure not only restores vision but often improves it beyond what was possible before. For many, it’s a life-changing event that allows them to regain their independence and return to the activities they love. Monet, after his own surgery in 1923, could see the world in full colour again and even revisited some of his old works to add back the vibrant blues and purples he’d lost.
Regain your Clarity
Clarity is dedicated to providing personalised, life-changing eye care to help you rediscover the world’s wonders.
