---
title: Seeing Clearly - Understanding Cataracts - The Mind's Eye | VBA
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 understand this condition and how to detect it early on.
---

Already have an Account?

LOGIN

X

### Select Line of Coverage:

Vision

Dental

### Select One:

Member

Administrator

Provider

Lab

SIGN IN

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.

## Related Articles

[Hygiene and Health](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/hygiene-and-health) [Tips and Tricks](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/tips-and-tricks) [Dental](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/dental)

### [How Heart Health and Oral Health Are Connected](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/blog/post/how-heart-health-and-oral-health-are-connected)

[Matthew Cuomo](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/author/matthew-cuomo) 

[Read More](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/blog/post/how-heart-health-and-oral-health-are-connected)

[Vision](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/vision) [Lifestyle](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/lifestyle) [Health and Wellness](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/tag/health-and-wellness)

### [Hungry Eyes](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/blog/post/hungry-eyes)

[Carrie Kadunce](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/author/carrie-kadunce) 

[Read More](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/blog/post/hungry-eyes)

#### Stay in Touch

Sign up to receive the latest news and information from VBA.

![VBA Plans of America logo](https://www.vbaplans.com/assets/images/VBA-Logo.png)

Vision Benefits of America  
 400 Lydia Street, Suite 300  
 Carnegie, PA 15106

[1-800-432-4966](tel:8004324966)

##### [VISION](https://www.vbaplans.com/vision)

##### [DENTAL](https://www.vbaplans.com/dental)

##### [COMPANY](https://www.vbaplans.com/about-us)

##### FOLLOW

© 2021 VBA

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Jennifer Stech",
    "url" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/author/jennifer-stech"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-10-30T15:58:25.350Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-05-17T04:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Seeing Clearly - Understanding Cataracts - The Mind's Eye | VBA",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/the-minds-eye/blog/post/seeing-clearly-understanding-cataracts",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/VBA_RGB-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Vision Benefits of America"
  }
}
```