Cataracts
If the lens becomes cloudy, the light reaching the retina is blurred and distorted, and your vision is affected. This clouded lens is called a cataract, and it must be removed before vision can be restored. A clouded lens can be compared to a window that is frosted or "fogged" with steam. Cataracts are not cancerous. They can be treated with a surgical procedure that has become a fairly common procedure in the United States.
The two most common types of cataracts are: the cortical cataract and a posterior subcapsular cataract. Depending on the type of cataract, a patient will experience different vision problems, but the most common cataract symptoms include:
- Blurring vision
- Sensitivity to light or glare
- Double vision in one eye
- Poor night vision
- Needing brighter light to read
- Experiencing fading or yellowing of colors
- If the cloudiness is not near the center of the lens, you may not be aware that you have a cataract.