Cataracts are the opacification or loss of lens transparency that leads to progressive loss of vision. The lens is a totally transparent and lentil-shaped organ located inside the eyeball just behind the iris.
Symptoms of cataracts vary. Vision becomes blurred and the patient sees as if looking through fog. Discomfort with sunlight, changes in color vision, difficulty driving at night and double vision are issues that may occur with cataracts. Depending on the degree and location of the cataract, vision can be almost normal or it can cause almost total blindness (only sees and locates light). When a cataract is total, the ophthalmologist cannot assess the condition of the retina and optic nerve before surgery and must resort to special examinations (ultrasonography, electroretinography).