{"id":1806,"date":"2026-10-20T08:52:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-glossary\/cataract\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:56:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:56:27","slug":"cataract","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-glossary\/cataract\/","title":{"rendered":"Cataract: What It Is, Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a><\/li>
  2. Knowledge centre<\/a><\/li>
  3. Eye glossary A\u2013Z<\/a><\/li>
  4. Cataract: What It Is, Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t

    Cataract: What It Is, Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Medically reviewed by {{surgeon}}<\/span><\/strong>, {{surgeon’s title and specialty}}<\/span>, on {{review date}}<\/span>. Last updated {{date}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \"Eye<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n\t\t<\/svg>Definition<\/span>\n\t\t\t

    Cataract<\/strong> (noun, plural cataracts)<\/em>: a cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the clear structure behind the iris and pupil that focuses light onto the retina. It makes vision blurry, hazy and less colourful, and it usually develops slowly with age, in one or both eyes. No medicine reverses a cataract; the cloudy lens is treated by replacing it with a clear artificial lens in a short operation, and cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in the world.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    Cataract: key facts<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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    <\/svg>What it is<\/span><\/dt>
    Cloudiness in the eye’s natural lens, caused by changes in the lens proteins<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Most common cause<\/span><\/dt>
    Ageing. Lens proteins begin to break down naturally after about age 40, and clouding is typically noticed from around 60<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>How common<\/span><\/dt>
    In the United States, more than half of people aged 80 or older have a cataract or have had cataract surgery (National Eye Institute)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Symptoms<\/span><\/dt>
    Blurred or hazy vision, faded colours, glare and halos, poor night vision, double vision in one eye, frequent glasses changes<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Does it hurt?<\/span><\/dt>
    No. A cataract is painless<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Diagnosis<\/span><\/dt>
    Eye examination with a slit lamp, dilated retinal exam, and vision and refraction tests<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Treatment<\/span><\/dt>
    Surgery: the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Early on, new glasses and brighter lighting can help<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Outcome<\/span><\/dt>
    About 9 in 10 people who have cataract surgery see better afterwards (National Eye Institute)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Specialist<\/span><\/dt>
    Ophthalmologist (cataract surgeon); at Laser Istanbul Clinic, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131, Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer or Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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    \"Intraocular<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t
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    What is a cataract? Meaning and how the lens works<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    The natural lens of the eye sits just behind the iris. It is clear and flexible, and it focuses light that the cornea has already bent so that a sharp image falls on the retina at the back of the eye. A lens that stays clear lets light through freely.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    A cataract is what happens when that lens turns cloudy. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), proteins in the lens break down, so things look blurry, hazy or less colourful. Think of looking through a frosted or steamed-up window: the light still gets in, but it is scattered, so the picture loses sharpness and contrast.<\/p>\n

    Three points are worth knowing from the start:<\/p>\n