What is a Cataract? Inside our eye, we have a natural lens. The lens bends (refracts) light rays that come into the eye to help us see. The Lens should be clear. If you have a cataract, your lens becomes cloudy. It is like looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy, or less colorful with a cataract. 
What are symptoms of a cataract? Some vision changes you may notice if you have a cataract are:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Light sensitivity/ glare from car headlights
- Decreased night vision
- Needing more light to read
- Seeing bright colors as faded or yellow
What causes cataracts? Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. This is due to normal eye changes that happen after or around the age of 40. People over the age of 60 usually start to have some clouding of their lenses. However, vision problems mat not start until later years.
Other reasons you may get cataracts include:
- having certain medical problems, such as diabetes
- having an eye injury, previous eye surgery, or radiation treatments on your upper body
- having spent a lot of time in the sun, especially without sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays
Most age-realted cataracts develop gradually. Other cataracts can develop more quickly, such as those in younger people or those in people with diabetes. Doctor’s cannot predict how quickly a person’s cataract will develop.
How are cataracts treated? Cataracts can only be removed with surgery. If your cataract symptoms are not bothering you, surgery in not necessary. You may just need a new eye glass prescription. You should consider surgery when cataracts keep you from doing things you want or need to do.
