As we age, the lens in our eyes becomes less clear as we age and people need more light to read. Often, this may be one of the first signs of a cataract. Because of these changes, people in their 60s need three times more ambient light for comfortable reading than those in their 20s.

You don't have to be a senior citizen to get cataracts. In fact, people can have a cataract in their 40s and 50s or even younger due to trauma or some hereditary issues. But during middle age, most cataracts are small and do not affect vision. It is after age 60 that most cataracts reduce vision.

Patients find themselves not seeing as clearly as they used to. Often it is blamed on an old pair of glasses. After seeing the eye doctor, they can determine if it is your glasses prescription or if you have cataracts. Once your cataract starts to interfere with your lifestyle and everyday activities then you should consider cataract surgery.

The natural lens of your eye, which is located behind the iris and pupil, works similar to a camera lens. Its main function is to focus light coming into the eye directly back to the retina so you can see objects both far and near clearly. As we age, the protein component of our eyes’ lenses can clump together and form a cloudy area. This is called a cataract, and the larger it becomes, the harder it is to see.