Dr. T Fletcher Spotlights Cataract Care on World Sight Day
Each October, World Sight Day lands on the second Thursday of the month, and this year Dr. Taryn Fletcher's Bryanston rooms are marking the date by drawing attention to cataracts, which remain one of the most frequent reasons people lose clear vision. As an ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Fletcher has built a practice around microincision cataract surgery, medical retinal disease and aesthetic ophthalmology, with cataract treatment forming the core of what she does day to day. Her team is urging anyone in Johannesburg who has seen their eyesight slip gradually to book an eye test instead of writing it off as nothing more than getting older.
What a cataract is
Positioned behind the iris and pupil, the eye's lens behaves rather like the lens in a camera, directing incoming light onto the retina towards the rear of the eye. It is composed largely of water and protein. With age, those proteins can begin to clump, forming cloudy patches within the lens. These patches enlarge as the years pass, and once a cataract takes hold it both scatters and obstructs the light trying to travel through the lens. Vision then turns blurry, dimmed, or troubled by glare whether it is day or night.
In most cases cataracts appear in both eyes, but rarely at an identical rate. It is common for one eye to be worse than its partner, producing a clear mismatch in how well each one sees. Dr. Fletcher's practice points out that cataracts rank among the top causes of sight loss, which is precisely why occasions such as World Sight Day serve as a helpful nudge to get the eyes looked at.
Signs worth paying attention to
Since cataracts tend to creep up over time, many people adjust to the shift in their vision and never notice quite how far it has moved. The practice flags a number of warning signs that could indicate a cataract:
- Frequent changes to a spectacle or contact lens prescription
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Glare or sensitivity to light
- Colours that appear yellowed or faded
- Halos around lights
- Difficulty with night vision, including driving after dark
- Needing extra light for reading and close work
- Double vision in one eye
Certain cataracts do not follow the expected pattern. A nuclear cataract, which develops in the middle of the lens, can initially sharpen near vision, a phenomenon occasionally referred to as second sight. Cortical cataracts take shape around the lens edges in a spoke-like arrangement, whereas posterior subcapsular cataracts appear on the lens's rear surface. A check-up with one of Johannesburg's ophthalmologists remains the dependable way to establish which variety is present and how advanced it has become.
Who is more at risk
While ageing is the usual trigger for cataracts, it is far from the sole influence. Dr. Fletcher's practice sets out a spread of risk factors, among them a family history of cataracts, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation matters too, something worth bearing in mind in a sun-drenched country moving towards summer. A handful of medications are linked to cataract development as well, including corticosteroids, cholesterol-lowering statins and hormone replacement therapy. Also featured on the list are heavy drinking, earlier eye inflammation or injury, prior eye surgery and high myopia.
The practice equally draws attention to lifestyle steps that might make a difference. Because oxidative stress tied to poor lifestyle choices has been connected to cataract formation, eating plenty of antioxidants may offer some protection. Named options include omega 3 fatty acids from oily fish, the lutein and zeaxanthin found in orange and leafy green vegetables, vitamin E from leafy greens and seeds, and vitamin C. Wearing sunglasses that filter out 100 percent of UV rays is also recommended, all the more so as October stretches the Highveld's days longer and brighter.
When surgery becomes the right step
Surgery is not required the moment a cataract appears. During the earlier phases, fresh spectacles, magnifiers and improved lighting can go a long way. The operation is usually recommended once sight declines far enough to disrupt ordinary tasks like reading, driving or working. Regarded as a minor procedure, cataract surgery is also the most frequently performed elective operation.
During the operation the clouded natural lens is taken out and swapped for a clear artificial intraocular lens, or IOL. The surgeon creates a tiny incision at the front of the eye, uses a delicate instrument to fragment the cataract and lift it out, and then inserts the replacement lens. There is no overnight stay, though patients will need someone to drive them home afterwards. Where both eyes are involved, each is typically operated on separately a few weeks apart, giving the first eye time to recover. Consulting an experienced ophthalmologist in Johannesburg for an assessment of this kind allows the timing to be tailored to what each patient requires.
Choosing the right lens
Among the biggest advances in cataract care is the variety of lenses patients can now choose from. The practice explains that some lenses correct distance vision alone, others handle both distance and near vision, and a further group is built to correct astigmatism. The monofocal lens, which is the most widely used, focuses at a single set distance, meaning reading glasses may still be necessary. Multifocal lenses operate much like bifocal or progressive spectacles, offering zones tuned to different distances. Accommodating lenses behave more like the eye's own lens and can cut down the reliance on reading glasses, while toric lenses suit patients living with astigmatism. Talking these choices through with an opthalmologist ahead of surgery helps each patient settle on the lens best matched to their job, interests and everyday life.
Experience behind the practice
Dr. Fletcher earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005. Following her internship and community service, she took up a medical officer post at St John Eye in 2008 and went on to qualify as an ophthalmologist in 2013. She held an honorary consultant role at Helen Joseph Hospital and spent time as a locum in private practice before launching her own rooms in 2014. She holds the qualifications MBBCh (Wits) and FC Ophth (SA).
The practice looks after far more than cataracts, treating patients for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, flashes and floaters, pterygium and diabetic eye disease, alongside offering aesthetic treatments. Since a good many cataract patients also live with further eye conditions, whether glaucoma or diabetes-related retinal changes, a thorough examination ahead of any procedure forms part of the routine.
A good month to book an eye examination
World Sight Day stands as a global reminder that a great deal of vision loss can be treated or kept in check when caught early enough. Anyone bothered by the glare of oncoming headlights, washed-out colours or a prescription that will not stay still would do well to use October as the moment to arrange an eye examination. Relatives have a role too, gently encouraging older family members, or anyone managing diabetes, to get their eyes assessed.
More details about the practice, the procedures it provides and how to get in touch are available to both patients and referring doctors at https://drtfletcher.co.za/.
About Dr. T Fletcher
Dr. Taryn Fletcher is an ophthalmic surgeon running a private practice at Bryanston Place Office Park, 199 Bryanston Drive, Bryanston, Johannesburg. Her rooms focus on microincision cataract surgery, medical retinal disease and aesthetic ophthalmology, and also care for glaucoma, macular degeneration, pterygium and flashes and floaters. Dr. Fletcher completed her medical training at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005, qualified as an ophthalmologist in 2013 and established her practice in 2014.
Media Contact
Dr. T Fletcher
Email: info@drtfletcher.co.za
Phone: +27 11 463 2958
Website: https://drtfletcher.co.za/