Cataract

Cataract

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • What is a cataract?

    A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. As you age, proteins in your lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy. You may not even realize you have a cataract because it usually grows very slowly and may not impede vision early on. While cataracts are rarely dangerous, after a number of years they will likely affect vision. By age 65, over 90 percent of people have a cataract; half of the people between the ages of 75 and 85 have lost some vision due to a cataract. A cataract is not caused by overuse of your eyes, and it does not travel from one eye to the other.

    Cataract
    Lens of the eye clouded by a cataract

    A cataract is a partial or complete cloudiness in the lens in the eye. The lens is enclosed by the lens capsule. The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye.

    Understanding cataracts and cataract surgery

    This video provides a clear and helpful guide to understanding cataracts and cataract surgery. It explains what cataracts are, how they are diagnosed, and the details of the cataract surgery procedure, which replaces your eye's cloudy lens with a clear artificial one. You'll also learn what to expect during your recovery and how this surgery can significantly improve your vision and quality of life.

    Appointment Information

    To make an appointment, call 734-764-4190.

    What are the symptoms of a cataract?

    Some of the symptoms of cataract include:

    • A decrease in the clarity of vision that is not correctable with glasses
    • Colors that appear faded or washed out
    • Sensitivity to light, glare; halos around lights
    • Frequent changes to eyeglass prescriptions

    An ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to diagnose a cataract during a dilated eye examination.

    What can cause cataracts?

    The human lens is transparent so that light can travel through it easily. It has no blood supply and is 65 percent water. Although new cells are being made for the lens continuously throughout our lifetime, many factors combine as we age to cause areas in the lens to become cloudy, hard and dense. The lens can then no longer transmit a clear picture to the retina where it can be processed and sent through the optic nerve to the brain. Cataracts can have many causes, as described below.

    • Age-related: This is the most common kind of cataract. There are three subclassifications, based on location: nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular.
    • Congenital: Although it is not common, some babies are born with cataracts or develop them within the first year of life.
    • Traumatic: This type of cataract results from an injury to the eye.
    • Secondary: This is a cataract that is caused either by medications (most commonly prednisone or other corticosteroids) or disease, like diabetes. Cataracts are 10 times more common in diabetic patients than in the general population.

    What are the risk factors of cataracts?

    • Aging
    • Heavy drinking
    • Smoking
    • Obesity
    • High blood pressure
    • Previous eye injuries
    • Family history
    • Too much UV light (sun) exposure
    • Diabetes
    • Exposure to radiation from x-rays and cancer treatments

    How are cataracts diagnosed?

    Cataracts can be diagnosed by your eye care professional during a dilated eye exam. You may also have your vision checked in different lighting conditions and with an updated glasses prescription. Imaging or invasive testing is not required to diagnose a cataract. A complete eye exam is necessary to determine if anything else is contributing to your visual symptoms.

    How are cataracts treated?

    Once cataracts have formed, the only treatment is surgical removal of the cataract and replacement with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. When the cataract has become severe enough that it compromises your quality of life, you and your ophthalmologist will discuss the appropriate time to remove it.  

    Learn more about cataract surgery

    Locations
    • Comprehensive Ophthalmology & Cataract Surgery Clinic | Kellogg Eye Center 1000 Wall St
      Floor 1
      Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1912       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
      Entrance 1, Level 2
      Brighton, MI 48116-9416       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Canton Health Center 1051 N Canton Center Rd
      Canton, MI 48187-5097       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Chelsea Health Center 14700 E Old US Highway 12
      Floor 1
      Chelsea, MI 48118-1185       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | Northville Health Center 39901 Traditions Dr
      Floor 2
      Northville, MI 48168-9493       Get Directions
    • Ophthalmology Clinic | West Ann Arbor Health Center-Parkland Plaza 380 Parkland Plaza Ste 210
      Floor 2
      Ann Arbor, MI 48103-6201       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor

    Jill Elizabeth Bixler, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Theresa M Cooney, MD

    Theresa M Cooney, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Julia Dalia, M.D.

    Julia Dalia, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Pauline Dmitriev, MD

    Pauline Dmitriev, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Angela Elam, MD

    Angela Renee Elam, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology, Oculoplastics Ophthalmology

    Charles R. Frank

    Charles Ross Frank, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Sarah Jayne Garnai, MD

    Sarah Jayne Garnai, MD

    Clinical Instructor

    Ophthalmology

    Farida Esaa Hakim, MD

    Farida Esaa Hakim, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Sean Hansen, MD

    Sean Owen Hansen, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Christopher Hood, MD

    Christopher Thomas Hood, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Ophthalmology

    Show All Doctors

    News & Stories
    Susan Lane, wearing glasses and a dress with blue, red, black, and purple brushstroke designs, stands next to Alan Sugar, who is wearing glasses and a grey blazer with a blue tie. They are standing in a shaded courtyard area with shrubs and a brick wall behind them.
    Philanthropy News

    Susan J. Lane: Gratitude and Giving

    Susan Lane has made a transformational gift to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Michigan Medicine to support corneal research and patient education.
         eye drawing yellow dots
    Health Lab

    Cell death in photoreceptor cells is reversible, study finds

    A team of researchers from the University of Michigan found functional mitochondria are key to the recovery of dying photoreceptor cells.
         blue image side by side glowing on black background with some green
    Health Lab

    Uncovering how occludin protein maintains blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers

    University of Michigan researchers uncover the role of occludin, a protein that regulates blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, offering new insight into diabetic retinopathy.
         close up of hands on floor with cane
    Health Lab

    Poor vision plus unsafe homes drive higher fall risk in seniors

    Ways to reduce falls within your home per a recent study with Michigan Medicine and the National Eye Institute.
         couple standing in front of a vineyard greenery on a deck sunny
    Health Lab

    Doctors restore patient’s vision with progressive eye disease

    Michael Budd was diagnosed with Fuchs’ dystrophy and underwent surgery at Kellogg Eye Center, which fixed his vision issues.
         person putting contacts on up close to mirror
    Health Lab

    Improving eye comfort in patients who wear contact lenses

    Common difficulties include persistent discomfort, dry eyes, small bumps on the eye surface called corneal infiltrates and inflammation of the upper eyelid. Karen DeLoss, clinical associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at U-M Health discusses how contact lenses work, types of lenses available and treatment options for patients who struggle with wearing them.