This is a depiction of a normal eye. This is an eye with a cataract.

What is a cataract?
Cataracts are the clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens, preventing the passage of light needed for vision.

The lens focuses light rays on the retina — the layer of light-sensing cells lining the back of the eye — to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision is blurred.

What causes cataracts?
Cataract development is a normal process of aging, but cataracts also develop from eye injuries, certain diseases, medications, or long-term exposure to sunlight. Your genes may also play a role in cataract development.

How can a cataract be treated?
Although millions of Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, it is one of the most curable causes of vision loss. A cataract may not need to be treated if your vision is only slightly blurry. Simply changing your eyeglasses prescription may help to improve your vision for a while.

Unfortunately, there are no medications, eye drops, exercises, or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear or to prevent them from forming. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered.

If you think you may have a cataract, talk to our doctors about options to clear up your vision and improve your quality of life. Cataract surgery at Heartland Eye Care is a gentle, safe procedure offering you the benefits of improved vision.

Click here for answers to common questions about cataracts.
Click here for information on cataract surgery.