Simple procedure restores vision

Sight of old woman verifying by apparatus

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurry or dim because the cataract stops light from passing properly through to the retina. Operating much like a camera, the lens of the eye focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, which transmits images to the brain, adjusting the eye’s focus and allowing it to see things clearly. When the lens becomes cloudy, a clear picture is not possible.

According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts affect 24 million Americans over the age of 40. More than half of all Americans will have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old. Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of age-related loss of vision. In under-developed countries, where modern eye care is not available, cataracts often lead to blindness.