What is a Cataract?
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With the formation of a
cataract, activities like reading,
bowling, or driving can be difficult. Fortunately, vision
can be restored quickly, allowing the patient to return home
within a few hours. With new advances in cataract surgery,
vision improvement begins almost immediately, and an eye
patch isn't even needed.
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So What is a Cataract?
A
Cataract is the clouding of the lens of the eye. (See above
animation) Normally, light passes through the clear lens and is
focused onto the Retina. However, the natural aging process can
cause the lens to become cloudy. The Cataract or cloudy lens blocks
the passage of light through the eye and causes distorted or blurred
vision, glare, or difficulty seeing in poor lighting conditions.
Cataract surgery is the most common operation
in the world. In the United States, more than 2.7 million procedures
are performed annually. (National Institutes of Health)
There are 20.5 million cases of early cataracts among Americans aged
40 and older, and 50 percent of people older than 65 have developed
significant cataracts. (National Institutes of Health)
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