A cataract is not a film that grows over the surface of the eye. Sometimes cataracts can be seen as a milkiness on the normally black pupil. Cataracts are most often found in persons over the age of 55, but they are also occasionally found in younger people, including newborns. It is known that a chemical change within the eye causes the lens to become cloudy. The change may be due to advancing age or it may be the result of heredity, an injury or a disease.
Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, often at different rates.
If your cataract develops to a point that daily activities are affected, you will be referred to an eye surgeon who may recommend the surgical removal of the cataract. Your eye care practitioner can prescribe changes in your eyewear that will help you see more clearly until surgery is necessary, but surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts. The surgery is relatively uncomplicated and has a success rate of at least 95 percent. Cataracts may develop slowly over many years or they may form rapidly in a matter of months. Some cataracts never progress to the point that they need to be removed.