What is a cataract?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  

  If you boil a pot of pasta by the kitchen window, the window is going to steam up so you can't see out of it. That's essentially what cataracts do: cloud the lens of your eye to cause blurry vision.
  
  Though cataracts don't really cause a total loss of vision, the clouding can worsen over time to the point of making you legally blind (you're legally blind if you can't read the top letter E on a vision chart from a distance of 20 feet).
  
  Many things, including UV light, cigarette smoke, and extra glucose in diabetics (all factors that accelerate arterial aging, by the way), can increase the risk of cataracts. In addition to avoiding these risk factors, getting adequate vitamin C may be helpful in protecting against cataracts.
  
  Cataract surgery can remove the cataract and implant a new lens in the eye.

  

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  A Johns Hopkins Medicine answered

  Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye's lens. The lens is the normally transparent structure within the eye that focuses images on the light-sensitive retina. This clouding means your eye can't see those images clearly. If the clouding of the lens continues untreated, it can lead to significant loss of vision and even blindness. Fortunately, the treatment is a very common outpatient surgical procedure.

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  Cataracts are the Number 1 cause of blindness in the world. Learn more about cataracts in this video of Dr. Oz.
  
  
  
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  A Natural Medicines answered

  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. The National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates that by age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Cataracts generally do not cause surface irritation or pain.

  A cataract can occur in one or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

  Clouded vision can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night), or to see the expression on another's face. Cataracts commonly affect distance vision and cause problems with glare. The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

  In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

  The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image seen will be blurred.

  Clouding of the lens is a normal part of getting older. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that approximately half of Americans older than 65 have some degree of clouding of the lens. After age 75, as many as 70% of Americans have cataracts that are significant enough to impair vision. Cataracts occur equally in men and women.

  Most cataracts develop slowly and do not initially disturb eyesight. Cloudiness occurs over time. As the clouding progresses, the cataract eventually interferes with vision.

  In the early stages, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help the individual deal with the vision problems. But at some point, if impaired vision jeopardizes normal lifestyle, the individual might need surgery. Fortunately, cataract removal is one of the safest, most effective, and most common surgical procedures.

  You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  
  
  For more information visit https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/
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  A Dr. Michael T. Murray, ND , Naturopathic Medicine, answered

  

  Cataracts are white, opaque blemishes on the normally transparent lens of the eye. They occur as a result of free-radical or oxidative damage to the protein structure of the lens, similar to the damage that occurs to the protein of egg whites when eggs are heated. Cataracts are the leading cause of impaired vision and blindness in the U.S.

  Clouding or opacity in the crystalline lens of the eye occurs in a progressive manner, causing a gradual loss of vision.

  

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  A Donna Hill Howes, RN , Family Medicine, answered

  Cataract is a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms include blurred, cloudy, or double vision; sensitivity to light; and difficulty seeing at night. Without treatment, cataracts can cause blindness. There are many different types and causes of cataracts. They may occur in people of all ages, but are most common in the elderly.
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  A Dr. Manvi P. Maker , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem

  

  A cataract is a cloudy structure that forms in the lens of the eye. Watch this video to learn more from Dr. Manvi Maker about cataracts.
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  A Dr. Laura C. Fine, MD , Ophthalmology, answered

  A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye (focuses light rays to the retina, the innermost layer of the eye, where images are captured and recorded). The term was apparently coined because the resulting whiteness of the lens resembles the churned-up water of a cataract, or large waterfall. It generally takes years for the lens to become foggy, but the opacity can eventually cause a disabling loss of vision, either by distorting light rays or keeping them from reaching the retina at all.
  
  Most people develop some degree of lens opacity by age 60. Cataracts occur in about half of all people ages 65 to 74 and in about 70% of those older. Despite surgical advances, the lack of access to health care in developing countries makes cataract the leading preventable cause of blindness in the world today.
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  A Emilia Klapp , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered

  Cataracts are cloudy crystals on the lens of the eye. This happens to a lot of people as they age; cataracts also are common in people with diabetes. The cloudy crystals in the eye are caused in part by oxidation and by the formation of advanced glycated end products, also known as AGEs. AGEs are the result of glucose combining with protein. Cataracts are thought to develop from oxidation resulting from the lens’ exposure to the sun. Studies show that people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables have a higher risk of developing cataracts. The antioxidants, vitamin C, and folic acid in fruits and vegetables are all preventative measures.
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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens, like a window that is fogged with steam. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily and vision becomes blurred.

  Protecting your eyes from sunlight may slow the progression of cataracts. There are no medications, eyedrops, exercises or eyeglasses that will cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.

  Common symptoms of cataract include:

  • A painless blurring of vision;
  • Glare, or light sensitivity;
  • Poor night vision;
  • Double vision in one eye;
  • Needing brighter light to read;
  • Fading or yellowing of colors.

  It is up to you to decide when to have a cataract removed. When you are unable to see well enough to do the things you like or need to do, you should consider cataract surgery.

  In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed through a small surgical incision. In most cases, the focusing power of the natural lens is restored by replacing it with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

  Cataract surgery improves vision in most cases. Cataract surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis so you can go home the same day.

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  A Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered

  

  A cataract is essentially a cloudy layer that forms on the lens of the eye. Cataracts develop gradually over time, and they ultimately affect a person's ability to see. Eventually, people may need surgery to remove a cataract in order improve their vision.

  
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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  A cataract is caused by a clouding of the lens inside of the eye, which usually occurs as people age.
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  A UCLA Health answered

  Cataracts are a disease in which the eye’s clear lens becomes clouded, requiring surgical removal. Cataracts mainly affect people older than 60.

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  A Scripps Health answered

  Cataracts are common after age 60. As eyes age, the lenses become less flexible, thicker and clouded. Symptoms can include blurred or dim vision, sensitivity to glare and seeing halos around lights.

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  A RealAge answered

  Just like tree sap you can't get off your car's windshield, a cataract is a milky-colored protein buildup on the lens of the eye. More than half of people will have cataracts by age 80. They can seriously affect vision, but, fortunately, surgery easily removes them in most cases.

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