Cataract
A cataract is a painless gradual clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the pupil and the iris. This process tends to occur as people get older. The retina is situated at the back of the eye; it is a light-sensitive tissue. The lens is the clear part of your eye which helps to focus light onto the retina. Thus, when the lens becomes clouded, vision is impaired.
A cataract is something which develops gradually, resulting in your eyesight getting worse and worse over time. Contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not caused by a film growing across your eye. Your lens is actually made up of protein and water, and cataracts occur when the protein in the lens gathers in such a way as to prevent light passing through. Cataracts are most common in people over the age of 65.
It can feel as though you are looking through cracked or frosted glass when you have a cataract, as your vision becomes blurred. This can seem like a mere inconvenience at first but overtime can become detrimental to your ability to do everyday tasks such as reading and driving.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease in which damage occurs to the optic nerve at the back of the eye, usually due to an increased pressure in the eye. It is a leading cause of blindness but unfortunately has no warning signs in most cases; therefore regular eye examinations are important. Damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed but early detection and treatment usually prevents visual loss.