Cataracts: Symptoms, Causes and When to Consider Surgery

Cataracts: Symptoms, Causes and When to Consider Surgery

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye that slowly makes vision blurry, dim or faded. Most cataracts come with age, and surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the only way to remove one. You usually only need surgery once the cataract gets in the way of daily tasks like reading, driving or watching TV.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice.

Cataracts are extremely common. According to the National Eye Institute, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to remove them. The good news is that treatment works well for most people, and a few simple habits may help delay them.

Key takeaways

  • A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, usually caused by proteins breaking down and clumping together with age.
  • Common symptoms include blurry vision, faded colors, glare, halos around lights and poor night vision.
  • Age is the main risk factor, but diabetes, smoking, heavy sun exposure, long-term steroid use and past eye injury also raise your risk.
  • Surgery replaces the cloudy lens with an artificial one, and about 9 out of 10 people see better afterward.
  • Sunglasses, a brimmed hat, not smoking and good diabetes control are practical ways to lower your risk.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy patch in the lens, the clear part of your eye that focuses light onto the retina. When the lens clouds over, less light gets through and what you see looks hazy.

The Cleveland Clinic explains that proteins in the lens can start to break down around age 40, though symptoms often do not show up until after 60. The MedlinePlus overview from the National Library of Medicine notes that a cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it does not spread from one eye to the other.

Cataracts are one of several changes that often arrive together later in life. If you are also noticing changes in how well you hear, our guide to age-related hearing loss signs and treatment covers that side of sensory aging.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Early cataracts often cause no symptoms at all. As they grow, vision tends to become cloudy, dim or less colorful, and bright lights may cause glare.

Based on the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Eye Institute, watch for:

  • Blurry, cloudy or dim vision
  • Colors that look faded or yellowish
  • Sensitivity to light, especially oncoming headlights at night
  • Halos or glare around lights
  • Trouble seeing at night, or needing more light to read
  • Double vision or a "ghost" image in one eye
  • Frequent changes to your glasses or contact lens prescription

Because the change is usually slow, many people adapt without realizing how much their sight has slipped. Poor vision, especially at night, can also make it harder to spot steps and obstacles, so it is worth reading our overview of fall prevention for older adults if your eyesight is changing.

What causes cataracts and who is at risk?

Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. Other factors, from smoking to diabetes, can make them appear earlier or progress faster.

MedlinePlus and the American Academy of Ophthalmology list these risk factors:

  • Age: Risk rises steadily after 40, and most people over 60 have some lens clouding.
  • Diabetes: The CDC says people with diabetes are more likely to have cataracts and at a younger age, partly because high blood sugar can cause deposits to build up in the lens.
  • Smoking: Tobacco use is a well-known risk factor.
  • Sun exposure: Too much ultraviolet (UV) light, especially without protective sunglasses.
  • Corticosteroids: Long-term use of steroid medicines.
  • Eye injury, eye surgery or radiation: Past trauma, surgery for another eye problem such as glaucoma, or radiation to the upper body.
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Family history of cataracts

Several of these overlap with risks for other long-term conditions. Our article on the most common chronic diseases and how to prevent them shows how diabetes and smoking show up again and again.

Main types of cataracts

Most cataracts are age-related, and doctors usually describe them by where the clouding sits in the lens. The location affects which symptoms you notice first.

TypeWhere it formsWhat you may notice
NuclearThe center (nucleus) of the lensGeneral loss of sharp, clear vision
CorticalThe area just outside the centerTrouble in bright light, halos and glare when driving at night
Posterior subcapsularThe back of the lens, just under its outer covering (capsule)Blurry vision both up close and at a distance
Injury or surgery relatedAnywhere in the lens after trauma or eye surgeryClouding that can appear at any age
Secondary cataractThe capsule behind an artificial lens after surgeryBlurry vision returning weeks, months or years later

The type descriptions come from the Cleveland Clinic, and the secondary cataract details come from the National Eye Institute's cataract surgery page. Whatever the type, surgery is the only treatment that removes a cataract.

How are cataracts diagnosed?

An eye doctor diagnoses cataracts with a comprehensive eye exam that includes a dilated exam. Dilation means using drops to widen your pupil so the doctor can see the lens and the back of the eye.

During the visit, your eye doctor will typically:

  1. Ask about your symptoms, such as glare or trouble driving at night.
  2. Check your vision with an eye chart.
  3. Use a slit lamp, a microscope with a bright light, to look inside your eye.
  4. Dilate your pupils to examine the lens and retina more closely.
  5. Judge where the cataract is and how severe it is, and talk through your options.

The National Eye Institute recommends a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years if you are 60 or older. Regular exams also catch other problems, which matters because MedlinePlus notes that cataract symptoms can look like other eye conditions.

When should you consider cataract surgery?

Consider surgery when a cataract makes it hard to do everyday things you care about, such as reading, driving or watching TV. You do not have to rush, because waiting usually does not harm your eyes or make the operation harder later.

In the early stages, the National Eye Institute suggests simple steps that can help for a while:

  • Brighter lighting at home
  • Anti-glare sunglasses
  • Magnifying lenses for reading
  • An updated glasses or contact lens prescription

When those stop working, surgery is the next step. The surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL), a clear artificial lens that stays in your eye permanently. The National Eye Institute describes cataract surgery as very safe and one of the most common operations in the United States, and about 9 out of 10 people see better afterward. Left untreated for too long, MedlinePlus warns, cataracts can lead to severe vision loss.

Clear sight supports many of the habits that keep you active and independent, a theme covered in our guide on how to age well after 50.

What does cataract surgery recovery look like?

Most people feel better within 1 or 2 days and are fully healed about 8 weeks after surgery, according to the National Eye Institute. The procedure itself lasts about an hour, you are usually awake, and numbing drops keep it almost painless.

Here is what the recovery period generally involves:

  • Same day: You rest briefly, the team checks your eye, and someone else drives you home.
  • First days: Itching, mild discomfort and sensitivity to light or touch are common. You use prescribed eye drops and may wear a protective shield or glasses.
  • First few weeks: Avoid touching or rubbing your eye, bending over and lifting heavy things.
  • About a month: If both eyes need surgery, the second eye is usually done about a month after the first.
  • After healing: You may need new glasses or contacts once your eye has fully settled.

Possible risks include swelling, bleeding, infection, changes in eye pressure, retinal detachment and secondary cataract, which is treated with a quick laser procedure.

How can you lower your risk of cataracts?

You cannot stop aging, but you can cut down on the risk factors you control. Protecting your eyes from the sun, not smoking and keeping diabetes in check are the most practical steps.

  1. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UV light. Add a brimmed hat outdoors, as the National Eye Institute suggests.
  2. Do not smoke, or quit. Smoking is a cataract risk factor, and free help is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
  3. Manage diabetes. The CDC advises keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in your target ranges to protect your eyes.
  4. Limit alcohol. Heavy drinking is linked to higher cataract risk.
  5. Protect your eyes from injury. Wear safety glasses when using power tools or playing certain sports.
  6. Eat plenty of plants. Fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains support eye health. Our look at what the world's oldest people eat has simple ideas.
  7. Keep up with eye exams. Early detection lets you plan ahead.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming blurry vision is just "needing new glasses." Frequent prescription changes can be a sign of a cataract.
  • Driving at night with heavy glare. If headlights cause halos or blinding glare, get your eyes checked before driving at night again.
  • Wearing sunglasses that do not block UV light. Dark lenses alone are not enough; check that the label says they block at least 99 percent of UV light.
  • Delaying surgery until vision is very poor. Waiting is usually safe, but cataracts left too long can cause serious vision loss and make daily life harder.
  • Rubbing your eye or lifting heavy objects after surgery. Follow your surgeon's activity limits closely.
  • Ignoring blood sugar control. Poorly controlled diabetes raises your risk of cataracts and other eye diseases.

When to see a doctor

Book a routine eye exam if you notice gradual cloudiness, glare or faded colors. Seek care right away for any of these red flags:

  • Sudden vision loss or a sudden change in vision in one or both eyes
  • Eye pain that does not go away with medicine, especially after cataract surgery
  • A very red eye after surgery
  • New floaters in your vision after surgery
  • Vision getting worse in the days after surgery instead of better

Sudden vision changes along with confusion or memory problems need prompt medical attention, and our guide to dementia types, stages and symptoms explains which cognitive changes to bring up with your doctor.

FAQ

Can cataracts go away on their own?

No. Cataracts do not clear up by themselves. Glasses and better lighting can help for a while, but surgery is the only way to remove a cataract.

Can eye drops dissolve cataracts?

No eye drop has been proven to remove cataracts. The National Eye Institute and MedlinePlus both state that surgery is the only treatment that removes them.

Can a cataract come back after surgery?

The original cataract cannot come back, because the cloudy lens is removed. However, the capsule holding the new lens can become cloudy later. This is called a secondary cataract and is treated with a short laser procedure.

How long does cataract surgery take?

The National Eye Institute says the surgery lasts about 1 hour, and you usually go home the same day. Most people feel better in 1 or 2 days and are fully healed in about 8 weeks.

What to do next

  • If you are 60 or older, schedule a dilated eye exam if you have not had one in the past 1 to 2 years.
  • Write down specific problems, such as night driving glare or trouble reading, to share with your eye doctor.
  • Buy sunglasses labeled as blocking 99 to 100 percent of UV light and wear them outdoors.
  • If you have diabetes, ask your care team about your blood sugar targets and how often you need eye exams.
  • If you smoke, set a quit date and use free quitline support.

Sources

Last reviewed: November 2026.

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