Cataracts
What is a cataract?
© 2021 American Academy of Ophthalmology
A cataract is a clouding and/or an opacification of the natural lens. As the cloudiness of the lens matures, light entering the eye may become progressively blurred and defocused, resulting in blurry or foggy vision. Other symptoms of cataracts include: halos around lights (especially at night), poor night vision, decreased brightness and sharpness of colors, light sensitivity, double vision, and more. Cataracts are painless, but can cause significant deterioration in your vision.
Who gets cataracts?
Most cataracts occur naturally with aging, usually starting in our 6th decade of life, although this can vary for each patient. Cataracts may develop from other causes: trauma, genetic disorders, various ocular conditions (uveitis, etc…), long-term steroid use, medical conditions (diabetes, etc..), and others.
What is the treatment for cataracts?
Cataracts can only be surgically removed from the eye, and replaced with an intraocular lens implant. When cataracts significantly impact your overall vision and affect your activities of daily living, then you may be ready to consult the doctor about cataract surgery. Most of the time, cataract surgery is elective and therefore can be planned when the time is right for you.