Cataract is the clouding of the natural lens present inside the eye. This leads to loss of clarity and related visual disturbances.

What causes cataract?
The development of cataract is a natural ageing process. Just like the greying of one's hair. It is an irreversible change.

There are however some conditions that lead to the development of cataract at an earlier age such as diabetes, trauma, inflammation in the eye,excessive use of certain medications eg. steroids and even prolonged exposure to UV light.

In children, developmental anomalies, infections and biochemical disturbances are known to cause cataracts.

What are the symptoms?
Cataracts usually develop very very slowly. Initial symptoms include glare both during the day and night. Then there is diminution and distortion of vision. There will be a frequent change in glass power.

Before Cataract Operation	After Cataract Operation

What is the treatment for cataract?
Cataract is not a disease, nor is it the development of a membrane in the eye (a popular misconception). It is an ageing process whose formation and progression cannot be prevented.
Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataract removal. And once removed, it is replaced with an artificial lens (called the IOL) The correct time for surgery depends upon the needs of each patient.
Patients who require excellent vision eg. pilots, drivers, artists, surgeons etc. come in for surgery early.

Cataract surgery -- what one should know. The most commonly performed surgery in the world is cataract surgery. It is considered to be one of the safest and most effective operations in the world today. The most popular method is by using ultrasound energy (phacoemulsification) the cataract is fragmented into tiny pieces and sucked out of the eye. Cataract surgery involves removing the natural cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens called the IOL.