NEW YORK -- A cataract occurs when the clear lens in your eye becomes cloudy. Today, doctors remove the cataract, and replace the clear lens of the eye with an artificial lens.

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New Eye Lens Implant

Now, some doctors say a new type of lens may make the surgery more effective.

Here's how the process works: First, the eye is anesthetized, then the doctor uses an ultrasonic device to break up the hardened cataract and removes it -- almost like a vacuum cleaner.

Then, the doctor prepares to insert the new lens. Past implants have been clear but the new implant has a yellow tint to it.

"It's called a chromophobe," said Dr. Cary Silverman, an eye surgeon. "It blocks the blue light from coming in to the retina. There has been some clinical studies done [that say the] way we feel blue light may be detrimental, and cause macular degeneration in [some] people."

Macular degeneration occurs when cells in the retina are permanently destroyed. If blue light is part of the problem, then blue-blocking lens implants may be part of the solution.

There's no proof yet that these lenses prevent macular degeneration, but Silverman thinks they're worth a try.

"If there's anything we can do to prevent the progression of macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of legal blindness in this country, there's no reason not to be doing it," Silverman said.

Patients can go back to normal activities the next day, and many of them can drive to office the day after surgery. The people who get these yellow lenses in their eyes don't perceive color changes in their vision.