A cataract is defined as:

A cataract is defined as:

• A. opacification of the lens or lens capsule
• B. increased intraocular pressure with optic nerve damage
• C. retinal detachment due to vitreous degeneration
• D. inflammation of the cornea

Answer: (C)

A cataract is clouding of the lens or its capsule, which blocks or scatters light and leads to blurred vision, glare, and reduced color perception. The lens normally focuses light onto the retina, but when it becomes opaque, vision deteriorates. Cataracts are most often age-related but can also result from diabetes, trauma, steroid use, or UV exposure. Treatment is surgical removal of the opaque lens, usually with implantation of an artificial intraocular lens. The other conditions describe different eye diseases: increased intraocular pressure with optic nerve damage is glaucoma; retinal detachment arises from the retina pulling away, not lens opacity; inflammation of the cornea is keratitis.

A cataract is clouding of the lens or its capsule, which blocks or scatters light and leads to blurred vision, glare, and reduced color perception. The lens normally focuses light onto the retina, but when it becomes opaque, vision deteriorates. Cataracts are most often age-related but can also result from diabetes, trauma, steroid use, or UV exposure. Treatment is surgical removal of the opaque lens, usually with implantation of an artificial intraocular lens.

The other conditions describe different eye diseases: increased intraocular pressure with optic nerve damage is glaucoma; retinal detachment arises from the retina pulling away, not lens opacity; inflammation of the cornea is keratitis.