Cataracts are a common eye condition characterized by the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurry vision and eventual vision loss if left untreated. Here are some key points about cataracts:

• Symptoms: Cataracts often develop gradually and may initially cause mild vision impairment, such as blurred or cloudy vision. As the cataract progresses, symptoms may worsen, including difficulty seeing at night, increased sensitivity to light, and seeing halos around lights.

• Causes: Aging is the primary risk factor for cataracts, but they can also develop due to factors such as prolonged sun exposure, certain medical conditions like diabetes, smoking, and eye injuries.

• Treatment: In the early stages, vision aids like glasses or brighter lighting may help manage symptoms. However, surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).

• Prevention: While cataracts cannot be completely prevented, adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as wearing sunglasses with UV protection, quitting smoking, maintaining a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, and regular eye check-ups can help reduce the risk of developing cataracts and delay their progression.