A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. It affects your vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all people in the United States either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
Common symptoms are
- Blurry vision
- Colors that seem faded
- Glare
- Not being able to see well at night
- Double vision
- Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear
Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. Surgery is also an option. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataracts.
National Eye Institute
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Cataract
(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/espanol/cataratas_paciente.asp -
Cataracts
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cataracts/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cataractsspanish/htm/index.htm
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Cataract
(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/cataract/toc.html
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Cataracts(Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/conditions/cataracts/index.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/conditions/cataracts/index-es.cfm
- Cataracts(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cataracts/DS00050/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Cataract Surgery(Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/treatment/cataract-surgery/index.cfm
- Cataract Surgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cataract-surgery/MY00164/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Intraocular Lenses(American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZRICYGREE&sub_cat=0
- Posterior Capsulotomy(American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZUMFCHREE&sub_cat=0
- Eye Exams: What to Expect(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/eye-exams/MC00021/METHOD=print
- Tips for Safe Fun in the Sun (Eye Protection)(American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/summer.cfm
- Nutrition & Cataracts(American Optometric Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.aoa.org/documents/NutrCatar_public.pdf
- Facts & Myths about Cataracts(Prevent Blindness America) - Links to PDF - http://www.preventblindness.org/resources/factsheets/Cataracts_MK08.PDF
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Talking to Your Doctor(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/talktodoc.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/espanol/oculista.asp
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Cataract(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/cataract/toc.html
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Cataracts(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cataracts/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cataractsspanish/htm/index.htm
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Diagram of the Eye(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/eyediagram/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/espanol/diagrama_ojo.asp
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Financial Aid for Eye Care(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/financialaid.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/espanol/financialaid_sp.asp
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cataract(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cataract%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cataract removal. Continued advances. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18825785&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Visual function and quality of life among visually impaired and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18780257&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A European survey of patient satisfaction with spectacles after cataract... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18780256&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cataract -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(cataract[majr]+OR+cataract+extraction[majr])+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Eye Surgery Glossary(Eye Surgery Education Council) - http://www.eyesurgeryeducation.com/Glossary.html
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Eye Health Organizations Database(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/resourceSearch.asp
- Find an Eye M.D.(American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.aao.org/aao/eyemd_disclaimer.cfm
- Find Services for People with Vision Loss(American Foundation for the Blind) - http://www.afb.org/services.asp
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Finding an Eye Care Professional(National Eye Institute) - http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/findprofessional.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/espanol/findpro_sp.asp
- American Academy of Ophthalmology - http://www.aao.org/
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National Eye Institute - http://www.nei.nih.gov/
- Cataracts(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/cataracts.html
- Cataracts (in Children)(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site666/mainpageS666P0.html
- Eye Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eyediseases.html
- Vision Impairment and Blindness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/visionimpairmentandblindness.html
- Eyes and Vision - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eyesandvision.html
- Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cataract is the National Eye Institute - http://www.nei.nih.gov/
Cataract - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/cataract.html