Spot the first signs and symptoms of cataracts (2024)

Understanding early cataract symptoms

Here are some of the first signs of cataracts that mean you might need cataract surgery:

1. Cloudy vision
   Vision that’s blurry, foggy, or filmy. This may also change the way you see colours making them look faded.
2. Changes in colour vision
   Colours can look faded and washed out. As the cataract develops, these may take on a yellow or brownish tinge.
3. Glare while driving
   You may have trouble with bright sunlight, street lighting, and the headlights of oncoming traffic. These can appear to have halos
4. Difficulty with reading
   A posterior subcapsular cataract can affect your reading vision. As with glare when driving, it may also reduce your vision in bright light and at night.
5. Frequent glasses prescription changes
   An update of glasses prescription will only temporarily correct cataract vision. As the cataract worsens, the prescription will need re-updating until glasses are no longer effective.
6. Double-vision or ghosting of images (especially if only noticeable in one eye)
   People suspecting they have a cataract can perform a simple test to confirm. Close one eye. If the open eye still retains double vision, a cataract is likely.
7. Halos around lights
   Seeing bright circles around lights is a sign that you might have a cataract. This can make driving at night or navigating areas of low light difficult.
8. Progressive need for brighter light for reading
   Cataracts can cause sight in low lighting areas to be difficult. This can mean you struggle to perceive things close up, like words on a page, without bright lights.
9. Recent struggle with vision at night
   As cataracts develop, they start to obscure more and more of a person’s vision. This can make things like seeing at night and in areas of low light very difficult
10. Increased sensitivity to light
    People suffering from posterior subcapsular cataracts can be particularly susceptible to light sensitivity.
11. Discolouration of your eye
    One of the most obvious signs you have a cataract is the visible discolouration. This is caused by the build-up of proteins and can make your eye appear cloudy.

As cataracts get worse, vision becomes more cloudy and you might notice worsening of the above symptoms.

Did you know?

Around 36 million people across the world are blind. Over 12 million of these are blind due to cataracts¹.

What causes cataracts?

• Natural ageing changes (most cataracts are formed this way)
• Previous eye surgery
• Babies can be born with congenital cataracts.

What are the different types of cataracts?

There are three different types of cataracts: nuclear, cortical or subcapsular.

• Nuclear sclerotic cataracts usually develop with age. They form deep in the central part of the lens and increase gradually
• Cortical cataracts can be caused by increased risk factors such as diabetes. This type of cataract begins at the edge of the lens and can be described as gradually moving into the centre in a spoke-like manner. Cortical cataracts can develop quite quickly, over a period of months
• Posterior subcapsular cataracts can be caused by taking steroid medication, diabetes, radiation or extreme near-sightedness. This type of cataract forms at the back of the lens. It can make vision blurry and make it difficult to see in bright light. Activities such as driving, especially at night, can be particularly difficult.

How are cataracts diagnosed?

Cataracts can be diagnosed fairly easily by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, through a consultation and an eye examination.

When to seek medical advice for cataracts

If you think you may be developing signs of cataracts, you need a professional eye exam by your eye doctor, optician or ophthalmologist (after referral by your GP). If your vision problems can be corrected to an acceptable level with glasses or contact lenses, surgery may be avoided at this time. If your vision loss cannot be corrected by the above measures and if this interferes with your daily activities such as driving or watching television, then you may benefit from cataract surgery.

What does cataract surgery involve?

Cataract surgery is the removal of the cataract and insertion of an artificial lens called an Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) into the eye. Far more than 90% of patients operated on have a significant improvement in their vision.

Learn more about the latest enhanced cataract lenses and cataract surgery costs.

At what stage should cataracts be removed?

The operation can be performed at any stage of cataract development. There is no need to wait until your cataract is “ripe” before removing it. Most people choose to have their cataracts removed when the change in their vision starts to cause them difficulties in everyday life.

Early-stage cataract treatment means you can improve your vision faster and prevent it from worsening. You can learn about cataract surgery waiting times here.

Are you awake during cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery usually takes about 15 minutes and most people go home from hospital about two hours later. It is done under local anaesthetic, which means you will be awake during the operation. Most of the time drops will be used to numb the eye.

After the operation, you will need to put drops into your eyes for a few weeks.

See Also

Who is NOT a Candidate for Cataract Surgery? - Pacific Vision Institute Blog

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How can I prevent my cataracts from getting worse?

Lasers are not used to remove cataracts and there is no evidence to suggest that changing your diet, taking vitamins or using eye drops can cure cataracts.

To prevent your cataracts from getting worse, you could try:

• ensuring you have regular eye examinations
• wear sunglasses when out in the sun
• reduce alcohol and smoking
• manage other health issues that increase the risk of cataracts, such as diabetes.

Can cataracts be prevented?

To date, there is no proven method of preventing cataracts. It is very important to have regular eye examinations (every two years for adults and then every year after the age of 50) as conditions that may affect your eye health become increasingly common with age.

Please ask your local optician or talk to your doctor if you have any risk factors or indications that cataracts may be affecting your vision. Risk factors for cataracts include:

• getting older
• diabetes
• obesity
• previous eye surgery or eye injuries
• smoking
• excessive alcohol use
• excessive sunlight exposure.

Hear more answers to your cataract questions in the webinar with top ophthalmologist Mr Ernest Onyema.

Sources and references

¹ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – How common are cataracts?