Cataract

A cataract is a cloudiness of the lens in the eye, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The lens works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The cloudiness of a cataract restricts and blurs the light to the retina which affects vision.
The most common cause of cataracts is aging, although other factors include; inherited or developmental problems, diabetes, medications such as steroids and trauma. Common symptoms of cataract are hazy or blurry vision, glare, poor night vision, or a need to change glasses frequently. Only cataracts causing symptoms need treatment.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy contents of the lens from inside the eye through a small incision, replacing it with a new plastic ‘intraocular lens’.