What is lens fungus and will it damage my camera lens?

There are few sights more disheartening for a photographer than looking through their lens and seeing a faint, spidery web or a strange, foggy haze on the inside. This is not a manufacturing defect or a simple smudge; it's lens fungus, a silent, living enemy that can slowly but surely degrade your image quality and, if left unchecked, cause permanent damage. In a city like Dubai, where high humidity and warmth create a perfect storm for mold growth, this threat is a very real concern for every camera owner.