What is cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens that focuses vision within your eye. When we look at something, light rays travel into our eye through the pupil and are focused through the lens onto the retina, a layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. The lens must be clear in order to focus light properly onto the retina. When the lens has become cloudy, it is called a cataract.

Vision problems with cataracts

If your vision has become blurry, cloudy or dim, or things you see are not as bright or colorful as they used to be, a cataract may have developed in one or both of your eyes. Many people say that their vision with cataracts is similar to the effect of looking through a dirty car windshield. Most people have at least a minor cataract as they age through their fifties.

As a cataract begins to develop, you may not notice any changes in your vision at first. But as the cataract progresses, you may begin to find that it interferes with your daily activities. Performing a complete eye exam, one of our cataract specialists can tell you whether cataract or another problem is the cause of your problem.

Cataract surgery for clearer vision

When a cataract causes bothersome vision problems that interfere with your daily activities, one of our cataract specialists may recommend surgery to remove the cataract. With cataract surgery, your eye’s cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant (called an Intraocular lens or IOL).