A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens which occurs in most people with age, but the process of cataract formation is faster in patients with diabetes, chronic steroid use, trauma, and other conditions and situations. The process of aging, along with other factors like trauma, certain diseases, or medications, causes proteins in the eye’s lens to clump together forming cloudy areas.

Over fifty percent of people over the age of 60 suffer from cataracts. Everyone develops cataracts as they grow older, however cataract surgery is an elective procedure, meaning it is only performed once the patient’s vision is significantly affected by the cataracts. When not treated, cataracts can result in significant loss of vision. Because the risk for cataracts increases with age, it is beneficial to maintain yearly vision screenings.

While cataracts may at first be asymptomatic, as they grow, they can begin producing symptoms including:

• Blurred, cloudy or fuzzy central vision

• Glare, which causes difficulty driving at night

• Halos around lights

• Difficulty seeing at night or in dimly lit spaces

• Decreased color vision

• Double vision in one eye

Cataract symptoms can be slowly progressive or more rapid in onset, depending on the type and cause of the cataract. Click below to learn more about cataract surgery.