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A cataract is simply a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. This lens rests behind the iris - the colored part of the eye - and causes light rays to focus on the retina at the back of the eye, allowing you to see. A healthy lens is transparent, but a cataract means the lens has become cloudy, which obstructs the passage of light.
Cataracts are usually a result of aging, and most progress slowly - meaning the clouding increases over months to years. Usually, both eyes develop cataracts at about the same time, but sometimes only one eye may be affected - especially cases of injury. Even if both eyes have a cataract, each may develop at a different rate, causing vision to vary from eye to eye.
As the cataract develops, you will notice gradual changes in vision. Initial symptoms may include difficulty driving at night due to glare, dim, or yellowed vision, glare in bright light or sunlight, trouble with close-up work, decreased depth perception, ghost images, and decreased color vision.
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Generally, the initial treatment for cataracts is eyeglasses. As the cataract progresses, frequent changes in your prescription may be necessary. Once eyeglasses are no longer adequate, clear vision can be restored by surgically removing and replacing your cloudy lens with a new, clear, artificial one, called an intraocular lens, or IOL. An IOL is made of a safe, non-toxic synthetic which is compatible with eye tissue and will not deteriorate over time. This modern form of lens replacement can restore normal vision for most patients, allowing full side-to-side vision and little or no double vision. IOLs are implanted surgically, where they remain without need for daily insertion, cleaning or removal.
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