Which part of the eye is affected by cataracts?

Cataracts specifically affect the lens of the eye. The lens is a transparent structure that helps focus light onto the retina, allowing us to see clearly. As cataracts develop, the lens becomes cloudy or opaque, leading to blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, and increased sensitivity to light. This cloudiness interferes with the passage of light, resulting in visual impairment.

Understanding that cataracts are a problem of the lens is crucial, as this differentiates the condition from issues related to other parts of the eye, such as the cornea (which is the outermost layer), the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye), and the iris (the colored part of the eye that controls pupil size). Each of these components plays a different role in vision, but cataracts solely impact the lens, which is why recognizing this relationship is essential in optometry and patient education.