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 A cataract is a clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens. The lens focuses light rays on the retina to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily and vision is blurred.
Cataract development is a normal process of aging. Eventually, nearly everyone will develop a cataract. Cataracts can also develop from injuries to the eye, certain medications (such as steroids), some diseases, and some genetic conditions. Once a cataract starts to form, no one can predict how quickly it will develop or grow.
Cataract Symptoms
There are no medicines, eye drops, exercises, or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear or prevent them from eventually forming. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.
Your symptoms generally determine when cataract surgery is necessary. Someone with a cataract may experience some or all of the following:
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty driving, especially at night
- Light sensitivity or glare
- Difficulty seeing in dim light
- Painless blurry or filmy vision
- Yellowing or fading of colors
When you are no longer able to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered. Sometimes, your doctor may need to suggest cataract surgery to help treat other eye problems such as glaucoma or diabetic eye disease.
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