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Health Library Home>Conditions InDepth>Article

Conditions InDepth: Cataracts

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
En Español (Spanish Version)
Main Page
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Screening
Reducing Your Risk
Talking to Your Doctor
Resource Guide

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

Normal Anatomy of the Eye

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

As the 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 grow slowly over time.

Cataract

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

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/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract?sso=y. Accessed February 13, 2019.

Cataracts in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116240/Cataracts-in-adults. Updated November 28, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2017.

Facts about cataract. National Eye Institute website. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts. Updated September 2015. Accessed February 13, 2019.

Informed consent: obtaining from patients undergoing surgery. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at:http://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Updated September 14, 2018. Accessed February 13, 2019.

What are cataracts? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts. Updated November 9, 2018. Accessed February 13, 2019.

What is a cataract? NIH Senior Health website. Available at: https://nihseniorhealth.gov/cataract/whatisacataract/01.html. Updated January 2013. Accessed May 10, 2017.

Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD  Last Updated: 2/14/2019

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.

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4600 38th Street
P.O. Box 1800
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-1800
T: 402-564-7118
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