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A '''cataract''' is a clouding of the lens in the [[eye]]. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all people in the United States either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.{{fact}}
A '''cataract''' is a clouding of the lens in the [[eye]]. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all people in the United States either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.<ref name=NIH2009>{{cite web|title=Facts About Cataract|url=https://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts|accessdate=24 May 2015|date=September 2009}}</ref>
Common symptoms are
Common symptoms are
Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. [[cataract surgery|Surgery]] is also an option. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block [[ultraviolet light|ultraviolet sunlight]] may help to delay cataracts.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cataract.html</ref>
Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. [[cataract surgery|Surgery]] is also an option. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block [[ultraviolet light|ultraviolet sunlight]] may help to delay cataracts.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cataract.html</ref>
Cataract removal can be performed at any stage in the progression of the disease and no longer requires ripening of the lens. Surgery is usually performed without a hospital stay using [[local anaesthetic|local anesthesia]]. About 9 of 10 patients can achieve a corrected vision of 20/40 or better after surgery.<ref name=Bollinger_2008>{{cite journal | author = Bollinger KE, Langston RH | title = What can patients expect from cataract surgery? | journal = Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine | volume = 75 | issue = 3 | pages = 193–196, 199–196 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18383928 | doi = 10.3949/ccjm.75.3.193 }}</ref> While cataracts do not cause [[astigmatism]], custom designed lenses can be implanted to both replace the cataract and correct the patient's astigmatism.
==References==
==References==