What is a cataract?

A cataract is the clouding of the crystalline lens inside of the eye, which is normally clear; light can no longer pass through the lens easily and vision becomes hazy or blurred. Current treatment is the surgical removal of the lens and replacement with an acrylic lens, which is safe and successful. ... more

A cataract refers to any cloudiness within the natural lens of the eye. Most often, this is age-related, but accelerated risk of cataract is now caused by over-exposure to ultra-violet light. This is worsened by the fact that the Ozone Layer is constantly thinning. Our advice is to take care when in the sun and always don a hat and a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. Ask your optometrist for more information. If you develop or are developing a cataract, don't worry unnecessarily. The sky does not fall down even though it might be slightly smeary to look at. A simple operation can be performed by an ophthalmologist whereby the cataractous lens of the eye is removed and replaced by a new implant. You will probably be sent home the same day! ... more

View of an eye with a Cataract A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. A normal lens is clear and focuses light into the back of the eye (see right photo). When a cataract develops some of this light is blocked out and or scattered. As this cataract develops, it becomes harder for a person to see. Cataracts are a normal part of aging. About half of Americans ages 65 to 74 have cataracts. Over 90 percent of those age 75 and over have this condition. Most people with cataracts have a cataract in both eyes. However, one eye may be worse than the other because each cataract develops at a different rate. View of an eye after Cataract surgery Some people with cataract don't even know it. Their cataract may be small, or the changes in their vision may not bother them much. Other people who have cataracts cannot see well enough to do the things they need or want to do. ... more

A cataract is a painless, cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the passage of light to the retina. The retina is the nerve layer at the back of the eye. The nerve cells in the retina detect light entering the eye and send nerve signals to the brain about what the eye sees. Because cataracts block this light, they can cause vision problems. See a picture of a cataract. ... more

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that affects vision. A normal lens is clear. It lets light pass to the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. As a cataract develops, it becomes harder for a person to see. Vision may become cloudy or blurry, and colors may fade. Most people have a cataract in both eyes. One eye may be worse than the other, however, because each cataract develops at a different rate. Some people with a cataract don't even know it. Their cataract may be small, or the changes in their vision may not bother them very much. Other people cannot see well enough to do the things they need or want to do. ... more

A cataract is any clouding or opacity in the crystalline lens - the normally transparent lens inside the eye. A cataract is not a tumor or growth of skin over the eye. Having a cataract does not mean you will necessarily have to do anything about it or that you will eventually be blinded by it. ... more

A cataract is an opacity or cloudiness of the lens of the eye. The lens is a structure inside the eye, which acts, like the lens of a camera, to help us focus on near objects. A cataract can be a tiny dot, which does not cause much vision problem, or could involve the whole lens (making it look white) that will cause nearly complete blindness. ... more

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When the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing blurry vision and other vision problems, it is known as a cataract. ... more

The eye is like a camera, and like a camera the eye has a lens inside that allows us to focus on objects that we see. When we are born, the lens in our eye is clear. With time, however, the lens becomes cloudy and stiff. It is this clouding of the lens that is known as a cataract. ... more