Normally, the lens of the eye is transparent to focus sharp images onto the retina. A cataract is a clouding of the lens. The clouded areas interfere with the passage of light and images. Patients may have blurred or double vision, glare, poor night vision, a need for brighter lights for reading and frequent changes in eyewear prescriptions. Eventually, the lens can completely cloud vision and lead to blindness.

According to Prevent Blindness America, cataracts affect more than 20 million people in the U.S. The condition is more common with age. By 65, more than half of all Americans have some degree of cataract. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in this country.

An age-related cataract can develop in one of two ways. The most common method involves protein deposits. The lens of the eye is made of mostly protein and water. Over time, some of the protein may clump together, creating tiny clouded deposits. Those deposits slowly grow. As the cataract increases in size, vision becomes more impaired.

Read the whole article at WSOCTV: Cataracts -- The Crystalens™