---
title: Seeing Clearly - Understanding Cataracts
description: Did you know that the risk of cataracts increases each decade after the age of 40? With aging being the most common cause of cataracts, it’s important unde
---

[[Test] The Mind's Eye MKII ](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii)

# [Seeing Clearly - Understanding Cataracts](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/seeing-clearly-understanding-cataracts)

 Written by [Jennifer Stech](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/author/jennifer-stech) | May 17, 2021 4:00:00 AM

Did you know that the risk of cataracts increases each decade after the [age of 40](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/resources-for-health-educators/eye-health-data-and-statistics/cataract-data-and-statistics)? With [aging](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts) being the most common cause of cataracts, it’s important understand this condition and how to detect it early on.

**What are Cataracts?**

Cataracts develop as a [cloudy area](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts) in the lens of your eye. As a result, your vision can become blurry, hazy or lacking in color. For the eye to see, light passes through the clear lens, located behind the iris. However, when the lens is [clouded by a cataract](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts), the eye can’t focus light the same way, thus creating distorted vision.

**How are Cataracts Caused?**

The older you get, the more at risk you are of developing cataracts. As your eyes age, the [proteins in the lens of the eye](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts) begin to break down and clump together, leading to a cataract. With time, the cataract becomes more prominent and clouds more of the lens. Though aging is unavoidable, there are other [elements](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts) that can speed up the development of cataracts including diabetes, steroids, eye surgery or injuries, radiation treatment and excessive sun exposure.

**Are There Common Symptoms? **

The most obvious sign of cataracts is cloudy, blurry or filmy vision. Other [common symptoms](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts) include:

- Sensitivity to bright light
- Seeing a halo around lights, especially at night when driving
- Prescription changes in glasses, specifically sudden-nearsightedness
- Double vision
- Declining night vision
- Change in the way you see colors

**Can Cataracts be Treated?**

Treatment for cataracts will vary based on the severity. If your symptoms are mild, you can make [simple changes](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts) to accommodate your change in vision, like using brighter lights and wearing anti-glare sunglasses. A new eyeglass or contact lens [prescription](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts) will also help you see better early on. If your cataracts begin to interfere with every day activities, your eye doctor will likely recommend [surgery](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts). Fortunately, this is a very safe procedure and [9 out of 10 people](https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts) are able to see better afterwards.

[View full post](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/seeing-clearly-understanding-cataracts)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Jennifer Stech"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-12-08T18:29:31.753Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-05-17T04:00:00Z",
  "headline" : "Seeing Clearly - Understanding Cataracts",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 360,
    "url" : "https://21893499.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21893499/Imported_Blog_Media/cataractawareness-1.jpg",
    "width" : 698
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/seeing-clearly-understanding-cataracts",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "[Test] The Mind's Eye MKII"
  }
}
```