South Africa’s High Diabetes, Hypertension, and UV Exposure Rates Boost Cataract Risk

June is World Cataract Awareness Month, Spec-Savers South Africa is challenging one of the most persistent myths in eye health: that cataracts are an old person’s condition. The science tells a different story and for South Africans, the risk factors are unusually close to home.

Cataracts are responsible for nearly 45 per cent of global blindness, yet the condition is highly treatable when caught early. What fewer people realise is that age is only one piece of the picture. Diabetes, UV light exposure, and certain medications are all established drivers of cataract development and research shows people with diabetes are approximately twice as likely to develop cataracts, and often at a younger age.

South Africa carries a significant burden of all three. The country has one of the highest rates of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, levels of UV exposure that rank among the most intense in the world, and a growing population of adults in their 40s and 50s who have never had a comprehensive eye examination. South African research has confirmed that people living with diabetes are almost twice as likely to self-report a cataract diagnosis compared to those without the condition. Hypertension, which affects an estimated one in three South African adults, was also found to nearly triple the likelihood of a cataract diagnosis.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people living with cataracts is projected to grow from 15.2 million to 21.4 million by 2040, a trajectory that makes early intervention, not just treatment, the priority.

“A cataract does not announce itself,” says optometrist Tiaan Massyn, Owner/Franchisee at Spec-Savers – The Reds in Pretoria. “By the time a patient notices that colours look faded, that night driving has become difficult, or that they need significantly more light to read, the condition has often been developing for years. A routine eye examination changes that entirely.”

Signs worth getting checked:

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision — even when wearing spectacles
• Halos or starbursts around lights at night
• Colours appearing faded or with a yellowish tint
• Needing significantly more light to read or carry out close work

“A comprehensive eye examination is a vital, non-invasive ‘early warning system’ that goes far beyond checking a prescription,” continues Massyn. “By utilising technologies like tonometry to detect glaucoma, digital retinal photography to monitor blood vessels for signs of hypertension or diabetes, and a slit-lamp examination to identify early-stage cataracts, we can identify health trends before they impact a patient’s quality of life.”

A comprehensive eye examination takes less than an hour and can detect cataracts before they begin to impair daily life. If you have diabetes, hypertension, a family history of cataracts, or spend significant time outdoors without UV-protective eyewear, Spec-Savers recommends an annual eye examination regardless of your age.

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Author: Susan Simpson from Emerald Hill PR on behalf of Spec-Savers South Africa.

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