American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) Practice Exam

The visual condition characterized by the lens becoming cloudy is cataracts. This occurs when the proteins in the lens of the eye clump together, leading to cloudiness that can significantly impair vision. Cataracts typically develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light, and seeing halos around lights.

In contrast, glaucoma involves increased intraocular pressure that may damage the optic nerve and is not characterized by cloudiness of the lens. Retinal detachment refers to the separation of the retina from its underlying layer, which can lead to vision loss but does not involve lens cloudiness. Macular degeneration primarily affects the macula, the central part of the retina, leading to loss of central vision but does not cause cloudiness in the lens.