Overview
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens helps focus light so you can see clearly, and when it becomes cloudy, vision may look blurred, dim, or washed out. Cataracts usually develop slowly over time. They are a common cause of vision problems, especially in older adults.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms can include blurry or cloudy vision, faded colors, glare from bright lights, halos around lights, and trouble seeing at night. Some people notice they need brighter light for reading or that their glasses prescription changes often. Cataracts are usually not painful. Vision changes may affect driving, reading, work, and daily tasks.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common cause is aging, because proteins in the lens can change over time and make it less clear. Other risk factors include diabetes, smoking, heavy alcohol use, long-term exposure to sunlight, eye injury, eye inflammation, and long-term use of corticosteroid medicines. Cataracts can also be present at birth or develop after eye surgery or radiation exposure.
Who Is Affected
Cataracts can affect people of any age, but they are much more common in older adults. People with diabetes or a history of eye injury may develop them earlier. Babies and children can also have cataracts, although this is less common. Access to eye care can affect how quickly cataracts are found and treated.
Prevention
Not all cataracts can be prevented, but some steps may help lower risk or support eye health. Wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet light, not smoking, managing long-term health conditions such as diabetes, and protecting the eyes from injury are sensible measures. Regular eye exams can help find cataracts and other eye problems early.
Diagnosis and Tests
An eye care professional diagnoses cataracts through an eye examination. This may include checking vision, examining the lens and other parts of the eye, and using drops to widen the pupils. Testing is important because blurry vision can also be caused by other eye conditions. A full exam helps guide treatment decisions.
Treatment Categories
Early on, stronger lighting, updated glasses, or changes in visual aids may help some people manage symptoms. When cataracts start to interfere with daily activities, surgery may be considered to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. A healthcare professional can explain the benefits, limits, and possible risks of treatment in your situation.
Living With It
Many people live with cataracts for a time before needing surgery. It can help to use brighter lighting, reduce glare, and be cautious with activities such as driving, especially at night. If vision changes are making daily life harder, arrange an eye exam. Keeping follow-up appointments is important to monitor changes.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care if you notice gradual or sudden changes in vision, increasing glare, trouble reading, difficulty driving, or frequent changes in glasses prescription. Children or babies with unusual eye appearance or vision concerns should be assessed promptly. Any new vision problem deserves professional evaluation because not all vision changes are caused by cataracts.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical care for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, sudden flashes of light, many new floaters, a curtain-like shadow over vision, or eye injury. These symptoms can point to other serious eye problems that need prompt treatment. Cataracts themselves usually develop slowly, so sudden symptoms should not be ignored.