What is a Cataract? Cataracts and human eyes

HOW DOES THE HUMAN EYE WORK?

The human eye has two lenses that work together to focus light onto the retina. The outer focusing lens is called the cornea. The inner focusing lens is called the crystalline lens.

Light rays pass first through the cornea and then through the crystalline lens. The cornea and crystalline lens focus incoming light by bending all the light rays to meet at a single point on the retina.

From the retina, these light rays are sent as electrical pulses to the brain where our mind “sees” a picture of what’s in front of us.

WHAT IS A CATARACT?

Cataracts affect almost everyone, sooner or later.

The natural crystalline lens of the eye is made mostly of water and protein. As we get older, some of the protein will clump together, causing the eye’s natural lens to become discolored and clouded. This clouding of the natural lens is called a cataract.

When this occurs, light rays passing through the eye become scattered and unfocused. The result is that all objects, whether near or far, become blurry. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness, although this is very uncommon in the United States. To help you better understand cataracts, click here to watch an animation on the development of a cataract.

The only treatment for a cataract is removal of the affected natural lens of the eye and implantation of a lens implant, or intraocular lens (IOL). This restores the eye’s ability to have light pass unobstructed through to the retina. Over 14 million IOL procedures are performed worldwide each year. Dr. Watkins specializes in cataract surgeries and has performed over 7,000 procedures.