Cataracts

Probably the best known of all eye conditions, cataracts affect the part of the eye known as the lens.

Normally the lens is clear or transparent, like the white of an egg, but when cataracts form, parts of the lens go cloudy or opaque. This means that the lens cannot focus properly and sight becomes misty or blurred.

Cataracts can form at any age, but are most common in people over the age of 60. Although we are learning more about the condition, we are still uncertain about the causes, which may include smoking, too much exposure to sunlight, or poor diet,as well as other health conditions such as diabetes.

Most cases of cataracts can be successfully treated by removal of the cloudy lens. For most people this results in an instant improvement in sight, although complete healing may take some months.