Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which obstructs light from passing clearly through to the retina, leading to impaired vision. Cataracts are most commonly associated with aging, but they can also result from injury, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, or certain medical conditions.

• Causes: Cataracts typically develop due to the natural aging process, where proteins in the lens start to break down and clump together, causing cloudiness. Other risk factors include diabetes, smoking, prolonged use of corticosteroids, previous eye surgeries, and excessive exposure to sunlight without protective eyewear. Cataracts can also form after an eye injury or as a result of radiation exposure.
• Symptoms: Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, increased sensitivity to light and glare, seeing halos around lights, fading or yellowing of colors, and the need for brighter light when reading or doing close-up work. In advanced cases, the entire lens may become opaque, leading to significant vision loss.
• Treatment: The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. During the procedure, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Surgery is usually recommended when cataracts interfere with daily activities like reading or driving. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures, with a high success rate in restoring clear vision.