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Overview

What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the clear structure that helps focus light on the retina. This clouding can gradually make vision blurred, hazy, or less colorful. Cataracts are most common with aging, but they can also affect younger people for other reasons, including injury, certain medicines, or health conditions. In simple terms, a cataract is a change in the lens rather than a growth on the surface of the eye.

Symptoms

Cataract Symptoms

Cataract symptoms often develop slowly and may affect one eye or both eyes. Early changes can be subtle, but vision may eventually interfere with reading, driving, recognizing faces, or other daily activities. A cataract itself does not usually cause eye pain, so painful vision changes should be assessed for another cause.

  • Cloudy or blurred vision can make objects look less sharp or clear.
  • Glare or halos around lights may be especially noticeable in bright conditions or at night.
  • Difficulty seeing at night can make driving or moving around in low light harder.
  • Colors may appear faded, yellowed, or less vivid than before.
  • Frequent changes in a glasses or contact lens prescription may occur as the lens changes.
  • Double vision in one eye can occur and should be discussed with an eye-care professional.

When symptoms matter

Changes in vision deserve an eye examination

New, sudden, or rapidly changing vision symptoms should be assessed because they may have causes other than cataracts. Arrange an eye examination if changes are affecting daily activities or continue despite updated glasses.

Causes

What Causes Cataracts?

With aging, proteins and fibers inside the natural lens can break down, clump together, and become less transparent. As the lens loses its clarity, light is scattered instead of being focused cleanly on the retina, causing the typical vision changes of a cataract. Age-related changes are the most common cause, but cataracts can also develop from other exposures, injuries, medicines, or conditions.

  • Eye injury or previous eye surgery can damage the lens and lead to a cataract.
  • Long-term corticosteroid use may increase the likelihood of certain cataracts.
  • Diabetes can contribute to lens changes and increase cataract risk.
  • Radiation and long-term ultraviolet exposure can damage lens tissues.
  • Smoking is associated with a higher risk of developing cataracts.
  • Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood.

Risk Factors

Cataract Risk Factors

Nonmodifiable risk factors

  • Increasing age is the most common risk factor for age-related cataracts.
  • A family history of cataracts may increase a person’s likelihood of developing them.
  • Certain inherited or congenital conditions can make cataracts more likely or cause them early in life.

Potentially modifiable or medical risk factors

  • Smoking can increase the risk of lens clouding.
  • Diabetes and other medical conditions may raise the risk of cataracts.
  • Repeated or prolonged ultraviolet exposure can contribute to lens damage.
  • Eye trauma can injure the natural lens and cause a cataract.
  • Prolonged corticosteroid use may increase cataract risk, so treatment should be reviewed with a clinician.

Complications

Cataract Complications

Cataracts can progressively impair reading, driving, recognizing faces, walking safely, and maintaining independence. When vision becomes substantially reduced, everyday tasks may require more help or take longer. Regular eye care can identify worsening cataracts and check whether another eye problem is contributing to the symptoms.

  • Impaired vision can increase the risk of falls, driving problems, or other accidents.
  • Daily activities such as reading, cooking, shopping, or using screens may become difficult.
  • Ongoing visual limitations can reduce quality of life and independence.
  • Rarely, an advanced cataract can contribute to eye pressure problems that need medical treatment.

Diagnosis

How Cataracts Are Diagnosed

An eye-care professional diagnoses a cataract by reviewing symptoms and performing a comprehensive eye examination. The examination usually includes measuring visual acuity and looking at the lens after the pupils are dilated. These checks help confirm a cataract, assess its effect on vision, and look for other causes of eye cataract symptoms.

  • Visual acuity testing measures how clearly you can see at different distances.
  • A slit-lamp examination provides a magnified view of the lens and other structures at the front of the eye.
  • A dilated retinal examination allows the clinician to inspect the retina and optic nerve.
  • Eye pressure measurement checks for pressure-related conditions that may affect vision.
  • Additional tests may be recommended when another eye condition is suspected or the view of the eye is limited.

Treatment & Management

Cataract Treatment and Management

Early cataract symptoms may be managed with brighter lighting, an updated glasses prescription, glare reduction, and adjustments to activities such as driving at night. These measures can make vision more comfortable, but they do not remove or reverse a cataract. Regular eye examinations help track changes and guide treatment decisions.

When is cataract surgery considered?

Cataract surgery is considered when cloudy vision interferes with important activities or affects quality of life, rather than according to one fixed visual-acuity threshold. During the outpatient procedure, the surgeon removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens. The timing varies by case and depends on symptoms, eye health, personal needs, and the clinician’s assessment.

After cataract surgery

Follow the eye-care team's recovery instructions

Temporary blur, irritation, light sensitivity, or mild discomfort can occur after surgery. Use prescribed eye drops, follow activity instructions, attend follow-up visits, and protect the eye as directed. Contact the surgical team urgently for severe pain, marked redness, sudden worsening vision, new flashes or many floaters, or other symptoms they identified as concerning.

Prevention

Can Cataracts Be Prevented?

  • Wear UV-protective sunglasses and a brimmed hat when spending time outdoors.
  • Do not smoke, and seek support to stop if you currently smoke.
  • Manage diabetes and other health conditions with guidance from your healthcare team.
  • Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, and other nutritious foods.
  • Protect your eyes from injury with appropriate safety eyewear during risky activities.
  • Review long-term steroid use with a clinician rather than stopping prescribed medicine on your own.

Outlook and Prognosis

Cataract Outlook and Prognosis

Cataracts commonly progress slowly and may remain manageable for a period with updated glasses, better lighting, and activity changes. If they advance, they can eventually interfere substantially with reading, driving, mobility, and other aspects of vision. Monitoring by an eye-care professional helps determine when treatment is needed.

When Should You See a Doctor

When Should You See a Doctor for Cataract Symptoms?

  • Schedule an eye examination for gradually worsening or cloudy vision.
  • Arrange an assessment if glare affects driving or other activities.
  • Seek an appointment if difficulty reading or working persists despite usual vision correction.
  • Discuss frequent changes in your glasses prescription with an eye-care professional.
  • Make an appointment when vision symptoms interfere with daily activities or independence.

Seek prompt care

Some vision changes are not typical cataracts

Seek urgent evaluation for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, marked redness, flashes or a sudden increase in floaters, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision. After cataract surgery, urgently contact the surgical team for concerning symptoms such as severe pain or sudden worsening vision.

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