What is a Cataract?

Have you ever looked through a foggy window or a dirty pair of glasses? That’s kind of what it’s like to have a cataract. Cataracts can make it hard to see clearly, especially as people get older. But don’t worry—doctors know how to fix them!

So, What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. The lens is the clear part inside your eye, behind your pupil, that helps you focus on things. This is like the lens in a camera. When it’s healthy, the lens lets light pass through clearly. But if a cataract forms, it’s like having a smudge or fog on that lens. This can make things look blurry, dim, or even yellowish. This can also lead to difficulty with night driving due to the scattering of light by the cataract.

What Causes Cataracts?

Most cataracts happen because of aging. As we get older, the proteins in our clear lens can start to clump together, forming cloudy spots. Other things that can cause cataracts include:
• Spending a lot of time in the sun without eye protection
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Eye injuries
• Taking certain medications like steroids for a long time

Some babies are even born with cataracts, but that’s much less common.

What Are the Symptoms?

People with cataracts might notice:

• Blurry vision
• Trouble seeing at night
• Colors looking faded
• Sensitivity to light (bright lights may bother them)
• Seeing "halos" around lights
• Needing to change their glasses prescription often

How Are Cataracts Treated?

At first, stronger glasses or brighter lighting can help. But if the cataract gets bad enough, it makes it hard to do everyday things—like reading, driving, or watching TV—doctors can do surgery to fix this.

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery in the United States. During the surgery, the doctor takes out the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. The result is clearer vision and possibly less of a need for glasses.

Can You Prevent Cataracts?

You can’t prevent, as we all get cataracts. However, these things can delay or slow their development.

• Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays
• Eating healthy foods, especially fruits and veggies
• Not smoking
• Controlling health problems like diabetes

In Conclusion

Cataracts are like having a foggy window in your eye, but thanks to modern medicine, they’re fixable! If someone you know—maybe a grandparent—is having trouble seeing clearly, they might have a cataract. And now, you can help explain what that means!

The doctors at Summit Eye Centers specialize in the diagnosis and surgical management of cataracts. Call 816-246-2111 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a cataract evaluation. During this evaluation, they will do a thorough examination of the health of your eyes and put together a customized treatment plan that looks at your unique situation and visual goals.