A cataract is the term used to describe a clouding of the lens of the eye, which is normally clear. A person with a cataract sees things as if they are looking through a cloudy lens or a foggy window. Having clouded vision can interfere with a person’s everyday life because it affects every activity that that requires eyesight, which is just about everything. Long distance vision is mostly affected but cataracts generally cause irritation or pain.

As a person gets older, clouding of the lens is pretty normal. In fact, about half of Americans older than age 65 have some degree of clouding of the lens. That number increases by about 10% as a person approaches age 75.

In most cases, cataracts develop slowly and eyesight is generally not disturbed. However, as the clouding progresses, vision will become impaired at some point because less light is able to reach the retina.

Symptoms typical of a cataract include:

• Clouded, Blurred or Dim Vision
  
  
• Increasing Difficulty with Vision at Night
  
  
• Sensitivity to Light and Glare
  
  
• Halos around Lights
  
  
• The need for brighter light for reading and other activities
  
  
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
  
  
• Fading or yellowing of colors
  
  
• Double vision in a single eye

The appearance of the eye is typically not affected by a cataract. Any pain, redness, itching, irritation, aching in your eye or a discharge from your eye are probably signs or symptoms of another disorder of the eye.

The physical health of the eye is generally not in jeopardy unless the cataract becomes completely white. This condition is known as an overripe (hypermature) cataract and can cause inflammation, pain and headache. While a hypermature cataract is very uncommon, it does requires removal if it's associated with inflammation or pain.

One or both eyes can be affected by a cataract but in most cases cataracts tend to develop symmetrically in both eyes with the whole lens or just a portion being affected.

When the eyes are functioning properly, light passes through the cornea and the pupil to the lens. The lens then focuses the light, producing clear, sharp images on the retina which is the light-sensitive membrane on the back inside wall of your eyeball that functions similar to the film of a camera. With a cataract, the lens becomes clouded, which causes the light to scatter and the sharply defined image cannot reach the retina.

As a result, vision becomes blurred.

The lens is made up of three layers:

Capsule – The outer layer which consists of a thin, clear membrane.

Cortex – Sits between the capsule & the nucleus.

Nucleus – The hard center.

Cataracts occur in three types. Each type depends on which part of the lens is affected.

Nuclear Cataract – This type occurs in the center of the lens and in its early stages, a person may become more nearsighted or even experience a temporary improvement in their reading vision. Unfortunately, this improvement will not last because the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and vision becomes even more clouded.

Cortical Cataract – This type begins as whitish, wedge-shaped streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex but eventually progresses and will extend to the center and interfere with light that passes through the center of the lens. Both distance and near vision can be impaired and difficulty focusing and distortion are common. A person with a cortical cataract may also experience problems with glare and loss of contrast.

Subcapsular Cataract – This type starts as a small, opaque area just under the capsule of the lens and may appear in both eyes but typically will be worse in one eye. Reading vision and vision in bright light are typically affected with a subcapsular cataract. Glare or halos around lights at night are also very common.

The reason why a lens changes with age still remains unknown. But some possibilities include damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals from sources such as smoking and exposure to UV light as well as general wear and tear on the lens over the years.

Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood as well. These cataracts may be the result of the mother having contracted German measles (rubella) during pregnancy. Metabolic disorders can also be another cause.

While there is no guaranteed way to avoid cataracts, there are some steps you can take to slow their progression and even reverse them if caught in the early stages. For starters, if you smoke, stop. Always project your eyes from sunlight and avoid alcohol.

A list of beneficial supplements includes:

Copper (3 mg daily) & Manganese (10 mg daily taken separately from calcium) - Both are important minerals for healing.

Carotenoids (take as directed on label) - Great for all eye problems.

High Potency Multivitamin and Mineral Complex (take as directed on label) - Contains all of the necessary vitamin and mineral requirements the body needs.

Selenium (200 mcg daily) - Important antioxidant.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (3,000 mg 4 times daily) - Helps heal eye problems and relieves pressure from cataracts.

Vitamin A (25,000 iu daily) - Vital for eye function.

Grape Seed Extract (take as directed on label) - Powerful antioxidant.

Vitamin E (400 IU daily) - Aids the healing process.

Vitamin B (take as directed on label) - Necessary for intracellular eye metabolism.

Zinc (50 mg daily) - Shields the eyes against light damage.

Bilberry Extract (take as directed on label) - Helps remove toxic chemicals from the retina when taken orally.