When the lens in your eye becomes cloudy, the light reaching the retina is blurred and distorted and your vision is affected. This cloudy lens is called a cataract which must be removed for vision to be restored.

A clouded lens can be compared to a window that is frosted or fogged with steam. Cataracts are treated as a surgical procedure that has become a fairly common practice in India.

Common symptoms of Cataract include:

• Sensitivity to light or glare
• Blurring vision
• Double vision in one eye
• Poor night vision
• Needing brighter light to read
• Experiencing fading or yellowing of colors

Many cataracts take years to develop to the point where vision is seriously affected. Most occur as a result of the normal ageing process.

The types of age-related cataracts are usually described by their location in the lens. They are nuclear cataracts, cortical cataracts and sub capsular cataracts.

There are other kinds of cataracts not related to ageing process. Traumatic cataracts develop as a result of eye injuries. Congenital cataract can occur at birth, particularly if the mother had Rubella during pregnancy.