What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. The lens focuses light rays on the retina – the layer of light-sensing cells lining the back of the eye – to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision is blurred.

What causes cataracts?

Cataract development is a normal process of aging, but cataracts also develop from eye injuries, certain ddiseases, medications, or long-term exposure to sunlight. Your genes may also play a role in cataract development.

How can a cataract be treated?

A cataract may not need to be treated if your vision is only sightly blurry. Simply changing your eyeglass prescription may help to improve your vision for awhile.


There are no medications, eye drops, exercises, or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear or to prevent them from forming. When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered.


In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye through a surgical incision. In most cases, the natural lens is replaced with a permanent intraocular lens.

KC Eye Specialists offers traditional as well as premium IOL implants including: Restor, Crystalens, and Toric.