The lens is unable to focus light or allow it to pass when it thickens and becomes cloudy or dark. This condition is called white water. Some causes include aging, diabetes, heavy metal poisoning, exposure to an eye injury, or use of certain medications such as steroids
The main symptom of this condition is a gradual, painless loss of vision. White water is the first cause of blindness, and sometimes the dark lens may swell and cause secondary blue water
The most common form of this condition is what comes with aging, which affects people over the age of sixty-five. This type of white water is often caused by damage caused by free cracks. Exposure to ultraviolet light and low levels of x-rays lead to chemical fractures in the eye. These free cracks attack the protein, enzymes and cellular membranes of the lens. Free cracks in food, water and the environment are often a major factor in increasing the number of white water cases in the population