Cataracts

“Cataracts” are an especially common eye abnormality

that occurs mainly in older people.A cataract is a cloudy

or opaque area in the lens. In the early stage of

cataract formation, the proteins in some of the lens

fibers become denatured. Later, these same proteins

coagulate to form opaque areas in place of the normal

transparent protein fibers.

When a cataract has obscured light transmission so

greatly that it seriously impairs vision, the condition can

be corrected by surgical removal of the lens.When this

is done, the eye loses a large portion of its refractive

power, which must be replaced by a powerful convex

lens in front of the eye; usually, however, an artificial

plastic lens is implanted in the eye in place of the

removed lens.

A cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the lens of the eye. Cataracts usually develop as a person gets older and may run in families. Other environmental factors such as smoking or exposure to toxic substances can also accelerate the development of a cataract. Cataracts can cause visual problems such as difficulty seeing at night, seeing halos around lights, and sensitivity to glare.