What is A Cataract?

 

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the colored iris, works just like the lens of a camera – focusing light on the retina, which sends images to the brain. The human lens can become so clouded with a cataract, however, that it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, bright colors become dull, or seeing at night becomes more difficult. It may also be why the reading glasses or bifocals that used to help you read and do other simple tasks no longer seem to help.

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Vision with cataracts has been described as seeing life through old, cloudy film. But a cataract is not a “film” over the eyes, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away, nor can it be prevented. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can accelerate the clouding, but the majority of cataracts are simply a result of the natural aging process. The most common way to treat a cataract is with surgery that removes the old, clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial one to restore your vision and help you get back to the activities you enjoy.

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How Do I Know If I Have Cataracts?

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If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may be showing early signs of cataracts, or have a cataract already.

 

• Is your vision yellowing?

• Do you see a lot of glare?

• Are colors less vibrant than you once remember?

• Are you having difficulty driving, reading, or recognizing faces?