A cataract is the progressive clouding of the crystalline lens, the eye's natural lens. Usually age-related, it is extremely common after 65 and is the leading cause of reversible vision loss: surgery restores sight.
Symptoms
Cloudy or blurred vision, glare and night-time halos (difficult night driving), reduced contrast, dulled colours, a myopic shift with frequent changes of glasses.
Causes
Age above all; more rarely: diabetes, prolonged corticosteroid therapy, eye trauma, high myopia, or congenital cataract.
Treatment
No eye drop can reverse a cataract: treatment is surgical, decided when daily discomfort justifies it. The operation replaces the lens with an implant suited to your visual needs — see the cataract surgery page.
Frequently asked questions
When should you have surgery?
There is generally no urgency: surgery is indicated when visual discomfort affects daily life (driving, reading, work). Waiting too long can however make the operation more delicate.
Can a cataract come back after surgery?
No. A secondary cataract (clouding of the capsule behind the implant) can occur, and is treated in a few minutes with a YAG laser in the office.
Le traitement de la cataracte est détaillé sur la page chirurgie de la cataracte. En cas de baisse de vision à distance de l'opération, consultez la page cataracte secondaire.
Book an appointment
Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).