Welcome back to The Vision Gallery, our dedicated series where we investigate various eye diseases, how they develop, and what they mean for our community.
歡迎回到 【The Vision Gallery】！在這個專屬的網誌系列中，我們將為您深入調查各種眼疾的成因，以及它們對我們社區的影響。
For this investigation, we are turning our focus to a condition that almost everyone will encounter if they live long enough: Cataracts. Have the bright neon signs of Mong Kok or the headlights of oncoming red taxis started to look washed out or surrounded by halos? It might not just be tired eyes. Here is everything you need to know about cataracts and why they are a pressing issue in Hong Kong.
今次的調查對象，是一種只要我們活得夠久，就幾乎無可避免會遇到的情況：白內障。最近旺角的霓虹燈，或是迎面而來的紅色的士車頭燈，看起來是否變得暗淡，或者周圍出現了一圈光暈？這可能不只是因為眼睛疲勞。以下是您需要了解關於白內障的一切，以及為什麼它是香港一個迫切的健康議題。
What is a Cataract and Why Does It Happen?
什麼是白內障？為什麼會發生？
Inside your eye, right behind the colored part (the iris), sits a clear, natural lens. Its job is to focus light onto the retina so you can see sharp, clear images. A cataract is the clouding of this normally transparent lens. When the lens becomes cloudy, looking through it is somewhat like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.1
在您的眼睛內部，有色部分（虹膜）的正後方，有一個清澈的天然晶體。它的作用是將光線聚焦在視網膜上，讓您能看到清晰銳利的影像。白內障就是這個原本透明的晶體變得混濁。當晶體變得混濁時，看東西就像是透過結霜或起霧的窗戶往外看一樣。1
The most common culprit behind this is simply aging. As we grow older, the proteins inside the lens begin to break down and clump together, creating cloudy patches. While age is the primary factor, other environmental and health variables can accelerate their development, including: / 導致這種情況最常見的罪魁禍首就是衰老。隨著我們年紀增長，晶體內的蛋白質開始分解並結塊，形成混濁的斑塊。雖然年齡是主要因素，但其他環境和健康變數也會加速其發展，包括：
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation: Prolonged exposure to sunlight without UV-blocking sunglasses.
紫外線 (UV) 輻射： 長時間暴露在陽光下而沒有佩戴防紫外線的太陽眼鏡。
Underlying Health Conditions: People with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk of developing cataracts earlier in life.
潛在健康問題： 糖尿病患者提早患上白內障的風險明顯較高。
Lifestyle Factors: Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.
生活習慣： 吸煙和過度飲酒。
Trauma or Medications: Previous eye injuries, surgeries, or prolonged use of corticosteroid medications.2
創傷或藥物： 曾受過眼部創傷、進行過眼部手術，或長期使用皮質類固醇藥物。2
Symptoms and Diagnosis: How Do You Know?
症狀與診斷：如何得知自己患上白內障？
Cataracts usually develop slowly and painlessly. In the early stages, you might not even notice any changes to your vision. However, as the clouding progresses, you may experience:
白內障通常發展緩慢且無痛。在早期階段，您甚至可能不會察覺到視力有任何改變。然而，隨著混濁程度加深，您可能會經歷：
- Blurry, cloudy, or dim vision.
視力模糊、混濁或昏暗。
- Increasing difficulty seeing at night (a common complaint is struggling with night driving).
夜間視力越來越差（常見的抱怨是夜間駕駛變得困難）。
- Sensitivity to light and glare.
對光線和眩光變得敏感。
- Seeing "halos" around light sources.
看到光源周圍出現「光暈」。
- Fading or yellowing of colors.
顏色看起來褪色或發黃。
- The need for brighter light when reading or doing close-up activities.3
閱讀或進行近距離活動時需要更亮的光線。3
If you experience these symptoms, an optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose cataracts through a comprehensive eye examination. This usually involves a visual acuity test and a slit-lamp examination, which uses intense light and magnification to allow the doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye in tiny detail to detect any abnormalities or clouding in the lens.2
如果您出現這些症狀，視光師或眼科醫生可以透過全面的眼科檢查來診斷白內障。這通常包括視力測試和裂隙燈檢查。裂隙燈利用強光和放大鏡，讓醫生能仔細觀察眼睛前部的細微結構，以檢測晶體是否有任何異常或混濁。2
Treatments and Management
治療與管理
In the early stages, the symptoms of an early cataract may be improved with new prescription glasses, brighter lighting, or magnifying lenses. However, these are temporary fixes.
在早期階段，白內障的症狀可以透過更換新度數的眼鏡、更明亮的照明或放大鏡來改善。然而，這些都只是治標不治本的方法。
Cataracts cannot be reversed with eye drops or medication. The only effective and permanent treatment is cataract surgery. This is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures performed globally. During the outpatient procedure (often called phacoemulsification), the eye surgeon removes the clouded natural lens and replaces it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Patients often report a dramatic improvement in color perception and clarity almost immediately after recovery.4
白內障無法透過眼藥水或藥物逆轉。唯一有效且永久的治療方法是白內障手術。這是全球最常見且最安全的手術之一。在這個門診手術（通常稱為超聲乳化微創手術）中，眼科醫生會移除混濁的天然晶體，並替換為清晰的人工晶體 (IOL)。患者通常在康復後，會立刻感受到色彩感知和清晰度有顯著的改善。4
Why Cataracts Are a Major Issue in Hong Kong
為什麼白內障在香港是一個重大問題？
Hong Kong boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the world. While this is an incredible achievement, it also means we are a rapidly aging society—often referred to as a "super-aging" population. Because cataracts are predominantly an age-related condition, an aging population inevitably leads to a massive surge in cataract cases.
香港擁有全球數一數二的預期壽命。雖然這是一項令人驕傲的成就，但這也意味著我們正在快速步入老齡化社會，甚至被稱為「超老齡化」人口。由於白內障主要是一種與年齡相關的疾病，人口老化無可避免地導致白內障病例大幅激增。
This demographic shift has placed enormous strain on Hong Kong's public healthcare system. According to data from the Hospital Authority (HA) in late 2024, there are approximately 69,000 elderly persons waiting for routine cataract surgeries in public hospitals. The median waiting time is 14 months, but for some non-urgent routine cases, the wait can stretch up to an agonizing 38 months (over 3 years).5
這種人口結構的轉變為香港的公營醫療系統帶來了巨大的壓力。根據醫院管理局（醫管局）2024 年底的數據，公立醫院約有 69,000 名長者正在輪候常規白內障手術。輪候時間中位數為 14 個月，但對於某些非緊急的常規個案，輪候時間甚至可長達令人煎熬的 38 個月（超過 3 年）。5
To combat this, the Hong Kong government introduced the Cataract Surgeries Programme (CSP), a public-private partnership that provides a fixed subsidy (HKD $8,000) to eligible patients on public hospital waitlists, allowing them to undergo surgery in the private sector faster and alleviate the public backlog.6
為了應對這個情況，香港政府推出了耀眼行動（白內障手術計劃 CSP）。這是一項公私營協作計劃，為符合資格的公立醫院輪候患者提供定額資助（港幣 $8,000），讓他們能更快地在私營醫療機構進行手術，從而減輕公營系統的積壓問題。6
The Personal Impact: More Than Just Blurry Vision
個人影響：不僅僅是視力模糊
On a personal level, untreated cataracts are much more than an inconvenience. For the elderly population in Hong Kong, severe vision impairment drastically reduces their quality of life and independence.
就個人而言，未經治療的白內障帶來的影響遠不止於生活上的不便。對於香港的長者來說，嚴重的視力障礙會大幅降低他們的生活質素和獨立性。
Most critically, poor vision from cataracts is heavily associated with an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls. In older adults, a simple fall can result in devastating fractures, hospitalizations, and a permanent loss of mobility. Furthermore, the inability to read, recognize faces, or navigate the bustling streets of Hong Kong safely can lead to profound social isolation and accelerate cognitive decline.1
最關鍵的是，由白內障引起的視力不良與滑倒、絆倒和跌倒的風險增加密切相關。在長者中，一次簡單的跌倒可能會導致嚴重的骨折、住院，甚至永久失去活動能力。此外，無法閱讀、無法認出親友的面容，或無法安全地在香港熙來攘往的街道上行走，會導致嚴重的社交孤立，並加速認知能力衰退。1
Conclusion
總結
Cataracts may be an inevitable part of aging, but living with compromised vision is not. By wearing UV-protective sunglasses, managing conditions like diabetes, and ensuring our elderly family members attend regular eye examinations, we can catch the "fog" early. Let's help our older generations keep their world bright, colorful, and in sharp focus.
白內障可能是衰老過程中不可避免的一部分，但我們絕對不需要妥協於模糊的視力。透過佩戴防紫外線的太陽眼鏡、妥善控制糖尿病等疾病，並確保家中的長輩定期進行眼科檢查，我們就能及早發現「雲霧」。讓我們一起幫助老一輩保持他們的世界明亮、色彩繽紛且清晰銳利。