Cataracts can ‘cloud’ vision and ‘hide’ Macular Degeneration

Hamilton-man Stephen James, 89, was diagnosed with macular degeneration four years ago when he had cataracts removed from both eyes.

“I knew I had the dry form of macular degeneration, called Drusen,” says Stephen, who notes that the cataracts may have prevented him from noticing the symptoms of the more aggressive wet macular degeneration and getting the early diagnosis so crucial to saving patient’s central vision.

“It was a shock. Luckily my daughter was with me. She is a nurse, so she understood what Dr Worsley was saying and was able to explain to me anything I didn’t understand about the diagnosis.”

Stephen now has injections in both eyes every seven weeks. He has been able to preserve some of his sight through treatment although his independence has been affected.

“I do struggle to read, and need big print books – I can’t read the newspaper at all,” he says. “I often drop letters off the end of words. I worked in finance and I like to keep my books up to date, but when I go down the columns I might change columns or miss a figure.”

He also voluntarily gave up driving two Cataracts can ‘cloud’ vision and ‘hide’ Macular Degeneration years ago, which means he is more reliant on others.

“I didn’t feel comfortable behind the wheel. If I had an accident, I couldn’t stand the thought of it.”

Stephen says that when he was first diagnosed with cataracts he was warned about MD.

“My specialist retired shortly after my cataracts were diagnosed, and it took me a while to find someone else,” he says. “I should have gone to see someone sooner. Thankfully it was caught early enough to hold back some of the more severe symptoms, but early diagnosis and treatment are essential.”