What is a Cataract?

A cataract develops when the lens in your eye, which is normally clear, becomes opaque. For your eye to see, light passes through a clear lens. The lens is behind your iris (coloured part of your eye). The lens focuses the light so that your brain and eye can work together to process information into a picture.

When a cataract clouds over the lens, your eye can’t focus light in the same way. This leads to blurry vision or other vision loss (trouble seeing). A cataract can be present in different stages namely from stage 1 to 5 (Mature stage)

Who gets Cataract?

Most people start getting cataracts around age 50. But you probably won’t notice symptoms until after age 60. Rarely, babies are born with cataracts due to a birth defect. These days cataract is developing in 30’s and 40’s age group also.

You’re more likely to develop cataracts if you:

Smoke cigarettes.

History of intake of steroids for long duration

Use alcohol heavily.

Have a family history of cataracts.

What causes Cataract?

The lens of your eye is mostly water and proteins. As proteins break down over time, they hang around in your eye. These lingering proteins can make your lens cloudy, so it’s hard to see clearly. This is a typical — though unpleasant — part of aging.