What do cataracts look like?

Not visible in most: A cataract is a clouding of the natural intra-ocular lens. The lens is behind the iris and pupil and is not normally visible to the naked eyes. Only the most advanced cataracts, the so called, white cataracts, are readily seen as a white spot in the middle of the eye (or through the pupil).

Wide variety: When we look through the microscope to examine a patient for cataracts, we can see several types of cataracts, all with a unique appearance. For instance, a psc cataract looks like sugar or salt crystals! some cataracts alter the clarity of the lens of the eye, and change it to a greenish-yellow color. Another type can look like bubbles in soda pop.

Cataract appearance: With a slit lamp (the microscope at the ophthalmologist's) cataract is very easy to see as a clouding of the natural lens. From the patient's perspective it is a very gradually progressing film over the vision and glare from lights. Patients sometimes describe it as "looking through cheeseclothe." the term cataract means waterfall, presumably as if you're looking through a waterfall.