Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common problems that can affect your vision. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. For those with cataracts, sharp images become blurred, bright colors become dull and seeing at night can become more difficult. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, according to the National Eye Institute.

Probably the greatest risk factor for cataracts is age. And, although age-related cataracts may develop between 40 and 50 years old, vision is usually not affected greatly until after age 60.

What Are the Symptoms of Cataracts?

The following are the most common symptoms of cataracts. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Lights appear too bright and/or present a glare or a surrounding halo
• Poor night vision
• Multiple vision
• Colors seem faded
• Increased nearsightedness, increasing the need to change eyeglass prescriptions
• Distortion of vision in either eye

What Are the Different Types of Cataracts?

According to the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, cataract types are subdivided accordingly:

• Age-related cataracts: The majority of cataracts are related to aging.
• Congenital cataracts: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. Some congenital cataracts do not affect vision, but others do and need to be removed.
• Secondary cataracts: Secondary cataracts develop primarily as a result of another disease occurrence in the body (for instance, diabetes). Secondary cataract development has also been linked to steroid use.
• Traumatic cataracts: Eye(s) that have sustained an injury may develop a traumatic cataract either immediately following the incident, or several years later.