What Exactly Is a Cataract? A cataract is a clouding of your eye’s natural lens — the clear structure that focuses light so you can see sharp images. Over time, proteins inside the lens can clump together, causing the lens to become cloudy. This process happens gradually and is a normal part of aging , though factors like diabetes, smoking, UV exposure, and certain medications can speed it up. At Orchard Eye Clinic in Bolivar, we see cataracts as one of the most common age-r