You may be surprised with your diagnosis of cataracts, as many cases are caught during annual eye exams before any symptoms appear. A great number of people over the age of 80 have cataracts, mostly as a natural process of aging, but they can appear as much earlier in life. Genetics and lifestyle can be contributing factors, but they can also be caused by harmful UV light, trauma, radiation, steroids, and even other eye diseases.

In normal eyes, light passes through a clear lens and focuses on the back of the eye. This spot, known as the retina, gathers images you see and passes them on to the brain, creating eyesight. With cataracts, the vision can become cloudy, like a window with a sheer curtain pulled closed. Changes in the fibers of the lens cause this cloudiness, and its effect can range from minimal to severe loss of eyesight.