be some reduced risk for individuals who  eat properly, avoid sun exposure and do not smoke.

A cataract is not a disease but an aging process similar to  graying hair.
As the eye ages, the normal lens inside the  eye becomes cloudy. The lens focuses light rays on the retina at the  back of the eye to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the  lens becomes cloudy, the light rays cannot pass easily through it,  and the image becomes blurry. It can be compared to a window that is  frosted or "fogged" with steam.

There are many misconceptions about a cataract. A cataract is:

• Not a film or growth over the eye
• Not caused by overusing the eyes
• Not a cancer
• Not spread from one eye to the other
• Not a cause of irreversible blindness

Most people will need surgery to maximize their vision.
The only way to correct a cataract once it has developed is  through surgical removal of the opaque lens. Today, advances in  surgical techniques have made cataract extraction a routine,  same-day procedure. The development of new techniques such as  no-stitch cataract surgery has resulted in a high degree of safety  and restored vision. Over 1.4 million people have cataract surgery  each year in the United States, 95% without complications. With  regular eye examinations, it is unlikely that anyone should  experience blindness caused by cataracts.