Cataracts occur when the natural clear crystalline lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, impairing vision. A cataract is not a growth inside the eye or a film over the eye; a cataract is cloudiness of the natural lens of the eye.

Symptoms:

• Blurring of eyesight, especially in bright light
• Visual distortion when reading
• Brighter and clearer vision in one eye
• Halos around lights or glaring from lights (such as headlights while driving at night)

Treatment:

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. The thought of surgery on something as precious as your eye may be frightening, but there is no reason to be alarmed.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for older people. Loss of sight from glaucoma is preventable if you get treatment early enough.

Symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Severe eye pain
• Headache
• Rainbow haloes around lights
• Nausea and vomiting

Treatment:

As a rule, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Eye drops, pills and laser and surgical operations are used to prevent or slow further damage from occurring.

With any type of glaucoma, periodic examinations are very important to prevent vision loss. Because glaucoma can worsen without your being aware of it, your treatment may need to be changed over time.