Eye conditions
The lens is a transparent body behind the iris, the coloured part of the eye. The lens bends light rays so that they give a clear image to the back of the eye - the retina. As the lens is elastic, it will change shape, getting fatter for close objects and thinner for distant objects.
Cataracts can form at any age, but most often develop as people get older. In younger people they can result from an injury, certain drugs, long-standing inflammation or illnesses such as diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
There are several noticable symptoms: things seem blurred round the edges, or your glasses seem dirty or scratched. You may experience double vision caused by cloudiness, as the light rays reach the retina, they are split, causing a double image. You may find that bright light or very sunny days make it more difficult to see. As the cataract develops its centre becomes more and more yellow, giving everything you see a yellowish tinge.
What is the treatment?
The most effective treatment for cataracts is a small operation to remove the cloudy lens. This cannot be performed by laser, although laser treatment is sometimes needed afterwards. Diets or drugs have not been shown to slow or stop the development of the cataract.