Cataracts are a very common eye condition. As you get
older the lens inside your eye gradually changes and
becomes less transparent (clear). A lens that has turned
misty, or cloudy, is said to have a cataract. Over time a
cataract can get worse, gradually making your vision
mistier. A straightforward operation can usually remove
your misty lens and replace it with an artificial lens to
enable you to see more clearly again.
This guide is about cataracts in adults. Some children
develop cataracts, called congenital cataracts, before or
just after birth but these are usually dealt with in a
different way to cataracts in adults. You can find
information about congenital cataracts on our website
at rnib.org.uk