Cataracts
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A cataract develops in the natural lens of the eye, which is behind the iris and pupil. The lens clouds up and makes it extremely difficult to see. Cataracts hardly effect your vision at first because they start out very small, causing objects to be a little blurry or slightly bright and glaring.
You can put off the inevitable treatment of cataract surgery for a little while by getting a new eyeglass prescription, using a magnifier or adjusting lighting. However, surgery is necessary in order to completely rid your eye of a cataract. Cataract surgery is performed frequently, actually the most in the U.S., and is very successful.
The clouded lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). There are various types of IOLs which help correct for myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia and can block ultraviolet and blue light rays. So having cataract surgery can potentially alleviate the need for corrective eyewear such as eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Healing time for cataract surgery is about three to four weeks. Be sure to follow the instructions your eye doctor gives, as they are specific to each patient.
For more information on cataracts and cataract surgery, visit AllAboutVision.com's Consumer Guide to Cataracts.