Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that causes loss of vision. The lens adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens.

This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. There are several causes of cataract, such as diabetes.

Symptoms of Cataract

A cataract starts out small. It has little effect on vision at first. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass. A cataract may make light from the sun or a lamp seem too bright, causing a glare. Or, you may notice when you drive at night that the oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. You will find it harder to read and do other normal tasks.

Cataract is treated with surgery.


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