cataract

A cataract is when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy.  This cloudiness is a normal aging process and occurs in everyone with time, though congenital and premature cataracts can occur in youth as well.  A cloudy cataract can cause visual difficulties. One of the earliest symptoms is glare or halos, especially with nighttime driving.  Other symptoms include difficulty with fine visual details such as seeing distant road signs, reading small letters on television, and deciphering small print.  As cataracts worsen, they can cause significant visual problems and even blindness.  Fortunately, cataract surgery has advanced dramatically over the past few decades and cataracts are rarely a major problem these days.