What Are Cataracts?

Our eyes function very much like a camera. You have two natural lenses in each eye. One lens on the surface (cornea) of your eye, and a second lens within your eye, called the crystalline lens. Together, these lenses focus images onto the retina at the back of your eye. At birth, our crystalline lens is clear. As we begin to age, it yellows and begins to harden. When it becomes cloudy, it is defined as a cataract and begins to interfere with the quality of our vision.

From a clinical standpoint, cataracts are not life-threatening, but they can have a significant impact on visual function and daily living. When cataracts progress without treatment, they may cause substantial vision loss, increasing the risk of falls, driving difficulties, and loss of independence.

The reassuring news is that cataracts are very treatable, and modern cataract surgery is a safe and effective way to restore clear vision.

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataracts are most often caused by aging, as proteins in the eye’s lens break down and clump together, making the lens opaque instead of clear.

Other factors can accelerate this process, including:

Diabetes or other systemic health conditions
Long-term use of steroids
Previous eye injuries or inflammation
Excessive sun (UV) exposure over time
Smoking
A poor diet or lack of consistent nutrition

Older man sitting on a park bench in bright sunlight, illustrating long-term sun exposure and cataract risk.

Frosted window effect showing clouded vision from a cataract before surgery.

What Does Vision Look Like With Cataracts?

When a cataract forms, the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy and less transparent. Instead of a clear image, light gets scattered and blocked. Vision will gradually look blurred, hazy, or foggy, often compared to looking through a dirty or frosted window. Colors may seem faded or yellowed, and bright lights can create glare or halos, especially at night. You may also experience trouble with night driving, frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription, or even double vision in one eye as the cataract progresses.

Cataract vision changes typically occur slowly, so many people don’t notice them initially. Over time, if left untreated, these symptoms can make everyday tasks such as reading, driving, or recognizing faces more challenging.

How Cataracts Are Diagnosed

If cataracts are suspected, an eye care provider will perform a comprehensive eye examination, which includes:

Visual Acuity Testing

Dilated Eye Exam

Slit-lamp Examination

Glaucoma and Cataracts: How They’re Connected

Cataracts and glaucoma are both common eye conditions that can impair vision, but they affect different parts of the eye:

Cataracts affect the lens, causing clouding and blurred vision.
Glaucoma affects the optic nerve, usually due to elevated pressure inside the eye that can slowly damage the nerve fibers responsible for vision.

Key Differences

Vision loss from cataracts can usually be restored with surgery, because the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens.
Vision loss from glaucoma is usually irreversible, since the optic nerve damage cannot be undone. Treatment focuses on preventing further loss by lowering eye pressure.
Although they’re separate conditions, cataracts and glaucoma can occur at the same time, especially as people age, and having one doesn’t necessarily cause the other. In some rare cases, an advanced cataract can contribute to increased eye pressure, or glaucoma treatments can influence cataract formation.
Regular eye exams are essential because both conditions may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages, particularly glaucoma. Early detection allows for monitoring and treatment before significant vision loss occurs.

Dr. Whisler is not only a skilled medical practitioner, but he is also a great empathetic listener, a down-to-earth fellow, and someone who is a true champion and advocate for his patients. I recommend this “Dr. Genius” as a true healer without the slightest reservation and with complete confidence.

Harold K.

Google

Another success in cataract eye surgery, thank you to Dr. Page for being the best doctor and for the nurses who have always been caring for their patients, that’s why Vantage Eye Center always deserves 5 stars.

Joan S.

Google

I’ve been a patient of Vantage Eye for several years, which includes annual eye and retina exams, and recently a cataract surgery on the other eye, with the cataract in the other eye on the upcoming surgery schedule. The doctors have years of education and experience, and are supported by skilled nurses and administrative staff. My husband, also a patient of Vantage Eye, and I have the utmost respect and trust in the Vantage Eye organization. The statement “I’ll be seeing you” is true for our improved vision made possible by Vantage Eye.

Helen M.

Google

Vantage Eye Center provided excellent treatment for my sister’s cataracts. The nurse/assistant (Nancy) was so helpful with follow-up instructions, and Dr. Whisler was very upbeat and made the experience better than either my sister or I expected!

Pam C.

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