by EBSCO Medical Review Board

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. It makes it hard to see. They do not spread from one eye to the other, but many people get them in both eyes.

Normal Anatomy of the Eye
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Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

As a cataract grows and gets cloudier, it may become harder to read and do other tasks. Many people are not aware that their eyesight is blurry because cataracts develop slowly over time.

Cataract
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Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

The cause of this clouding is not known. Many things can lead to cataracts forming, such as:

  • Aging
  • Smoking
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Health problems, such as diabetes
  • Some infections
  • Eye disease, or injury or burns of the eye
  • Exposure to radiation, toxins, or some medicines
  • Taking steroid medicines for a long time
  • Too much time spent in the sun
  • Problems found at birth
What are the risk factors for cataracts?What are the symptoms of cataracts?How are cataracts diagnosed?What are the treatments for cataracts?Are there screening tests for cataracts?How can I reduce my risk of developing cataracts?What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?Where can I get more information about cataracts?

References

Cataract. American Optometric Association website. Available at: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract?sso=y. Accessed May 2, 2022.

Cataracts. National Eye Institute website. Available at: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts. Accessed May 2, 2022.

Cataracts in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cataracts-in-adults. Accessed May 2, 2022.

What are cataracts? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts. Accessed May 2, 2022.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD
  • Review Date: 11/2021
  • Update Date: 05/02/2022