Cataract
CATARACTS CAUSE CLOUDY, BLURRED, OR DIM VISION DUE TO AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NATURAL LENS OF THE EYE. DISCOVER WHAT CATARACTS ARE, TYPICAL SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, HOW THEY ARE DIAGNOSED, AND WHEN CATARACT SURGERY IS RECOMMENDED.
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Read About Our Happy Patients
What a great experience! Very reassuring and I am very grateful for the consultation from Dr Musa he was so helpful in helping me make a decision to proceed to having eye correction surgery. I have the upmost confidence in him and the team at the Eye Doctor Clinic, Huddersfield.
Lozza 747I had implants with Dr Musa ten years ago. It was the best thing I've ever done. They are brilliant. My sight both near and distant was very poor but since the op I've had no glasses no lenses and my sight has been super. It remains really good to this day. Thank you Dr Musa. Brilliant consultations and treatment for glaucoma since.
Kay FitbitI can highly recommend the Eye Doctor Clinic, and I am so pleased I went there. Dr Musa, Gemma and Jess are lovely. They are very knowledgeable and were able to answer all my questions. My vision following surgery is great, and not having to wear glasses is fantastic.
Carol PeelWhat Is a Cataract?
Cataracts are one of the most frequent reasons people notice a gradual decline in their vision as they get older. They often develop so slowly that many people adapt without realising quite how much clarity has been lost, until everyday tasks like driving, reading, or recognising faces become more difficult than they used to be.
Inside each eye sits a clear, flexible lens just behind the pupil. In youth, this lens is transparent and helps to sharply focus light onto the retina. Over time, natural age-related changes cause the lens proteins to clump and the lens itself to become increasingly cloudy. This clouding is called a cataract.
As the cataract develops, light is scattered rather than passing cleanly through the lens, which reduces contrast and sharpness and often changes colour perception. Cataracts can affect one eye more than the other, or both together. They do not spread from one eye to the other, but the ageing process often affects both lenses over time.
Recognising the Signs
Cataract symptoms develop gradually. Early signs can be subtle, here is what to look out for at different stages.
What Causes Cataracts?
The vast majority of cataracts are age-related, but several other factors increase the risk of earlier or more rapid development.
Age
The most common cause; natural lens protein changes over time
Diabetes
Raised blood sugar accelerates lens clouding
Steroid use
Prolonged or high-dose steroid medication
Eye injury or surgery
Previous trauma or procedures to the eye
UV exposure
High levels of ultraviolet light over many years
Smoking
Associated with increased risk of cataract formation
Congenital
Rarely, cataracts are present from birth or develop in childhood due to genetic conditions or metabolic disorders
How Cataracts Are Diagnosed
Cataracts are diagnosed during a full eye examination. Vision is measured using a standard eye chart and each eye is assessed individually. A detailed microscope examination, known as slit lamp examination, allows the lens to be viewed directly so that any clouding, its location, and its density can be documented.
At the same time, the ophthalmologist will check the health of the cornea, retina, and optic nerve to ensure there are no additional causes for visual symptoms. If cataract surgery is being considered, further measurements are taken to calculate the power of the artificial lens that will replace the cloudy one.
Vision measurement
Visual acuity is measured using a standard eye chart, with each eye assessed individually.
Slit lamp examination
A detailed microscope examination allows the lens to be viewed directly — its clouding, location, and density documented.
Retina and optic nerve check
The cornea, retina, and optic nerve are examined to rule out other contributing causes.
Biometry (if surgery planned)
Precise measurements are taken to calculate the power of the artificial lens to be implanted.
When to See a Specialist
You should seek specialist advice when cataracts begin to interfere with the things that matter to you. This might be difficulty driving at night, struggling to read or use screens, finding shopping or cooking more challenging, or simply feeling less confident in unfamiliar environments.
There is no need to wait until cataracts are “ripe” or severely advanced. In fact, timely assessment allows surgery to be discussed and planned calmly, and often makes surgery technically easier.
“If you notice that your vision has changed and glasses are no longer providing the clarity you expect, a specialist cataract assessment is appropriate.”
How Cataracts Are Treated
Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts. These are the procedures available at the Eye Doctor Clinic.
Cataract Surgery
The primary treatment for cataracts. The cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant, restoring sharp, comfortable vision.
Learn moreYAG Capsulotomy
A quick, painless laser treatment that restores clear vision after cataract surgery by removing clouding behind the lens implant. Takes only minutes with instant, lasting results.
Learn moreSecondary Lens Implant (Piggyback Lens Surgery)
Corrects residual refractive error after cataract surgery by adding a customised lens in front of the existing implant, restoring sharp and balanced vision.
Learn moreLens Replacement Surgery
For patients seeking freedom from glasses, the natural lens can be replaced with a trifocal or multifocal lens implant — delivering sharp vision at distance, intermediate, and near without the need for reading glasses.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
Your Cataract Surgeons
Every cataract procedure at The Eye Doctor is performed by a named consultant surgeon with specialist training in premium lens surgery.
Mrs Indira Madgula
MS · DNB · FRCS (Glasgow) · FRCOphth (London)
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Mrs Madgula is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon who, alongside her nationally recognised work in glaucoma, performs cataract surgery with premium lens implants. Patients benefit from her exceptional diagnostic precision, her meticulous surgical technique, and a genuine commitment to outstanding, personalised outcomes.
Dr Fayyaz Musa
MBChB (Edin) · FRCOphth (Lon) · CertLRS · PGDipCRS
Consultant Corneal, Cataract & Glaucoma Surgeon
Dr Musa is the founder of The Eye Doctor and a fellowship-trained anterior segment surgeon holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Cataract & Refractive Surgery. He has performed thousands of cataract procedures, from routine phacoemulsification to complex premium lens exchanges, and combines meticulous surgical technique with a warm, unhurried approach that puts patients fully at ease.
Meet the Team
Where to Find Us
Three convenient locations across West Yorkshire. Visit us for consultations, diagnostics, and treatments.
Bolton
136 – 140 Newport St
Bolton, Greater Manchester
BL3 6AB
Huddersfield
Woodlands, 4 Longbow Close
Huddersfield, HD2 1GQ
Book a Cataract Assessment
If you have noticed changes in your vision and are concerned about cataracts, a specialist assessment at the Eye Doctor Clinic is the right next step. Early assessment means surgery can be planned calmly and at the right time for you.
