Cataracts and Your Eyes
Understanding cataracts — causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can make it harder for you to see. More than half of Americans age 65 and older have cataracts.
What Causes Cataracts?
Cataracts happen when protein builds up in the lens of your eye, making it cloudy. This prevents light from passing clearly through the lens, causing some loss of vision. New lens cells form on the outside of the lens, and the older cells are compacted into the center of the lens, forming the cataract.
Other risk factors include cigarette smoke, air pollution, and heavy drinking.
Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts usually form slowly and cause few symptoms until they noticeably block light. Symptoms can include:
- Vision that is cloudy, blurry, foggy, or filmy
- Progressive nearsightedness in older people ("second sight")
- Changes in the way you see color
- Problems driving at night such as glare from oncoming headlights
- Problems with glare during the day
- Double vision
- Sudden changes in your glasses prescription
Diagnosis & Treatment
You will get an eye exam to test how well you can see. Your doctor will also dilate your pupil to examine the lens and other parts of the eye.
If your vision can be corrected with eyeglasses or contacts, your doctor may prescribe them. If your vision cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts and cataracts interfere with your daily life, you may need cataract surgery.