Cataracts

Normal eye

Eye with cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
Causes: Most are from aging. Other causes are: secondary cataracts (from surgery, diabetes, and prolonged steroid uses), trauma, and congenital cataracts.
Symptoms: Blurry vision, poor night vision, increased glare especially at night, needing more lighting when indoors, and frequent change in glasses or contact prescriptions.
Treatments: Cataract surgery to extract the opaqued lens and replacing it with a new intraocular lens.
Prognosis: Very good when remove at appropriate times.