They can affect one eye only or both eyes. Eventually, cataracts can make your vision blurred or distorted, make you sensitive to light and glare, or give you the sense of seeing double. You may see 'halos' around lights or find that objects have a brown or yellow tinge.
Cloudy or blurry vision
This is the most common symptom of cataracts. It can affect both distance and reading vision which may appear foggy. If left untreated, the clouding of the lens means the cataract will worsen, with less light able to get through the lens.
Normal vision (left) becomes blurred as a cataract forms (right). A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.
Your Eyes Appear Cloudy
As the condition develops, you're not the only one who will notice your lenses clouding. Your eye color may appear dull as cataracts progress and reduce the amount of light hitting the iris. Severe cataracts can make the cornea, iris, and pupil look milky white.
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.
Although it's never too late to have a cataract removed, it is better to have cataracts removed while they are immature, as this reduces the length of surgery and the recovery time. Earlier removal also means that you avoid the significant visual impairment associated with very mature (hypermature) cataracts.
In a stage 3 cataract, symptoms will be similar to stage 2 but more severe affecting quality of life and daily activities. In addition, the most noticeable change will be that the lens has changed in color from slightly clear or opaque to completely white or deep amber.
What is the average age for cataract surgery? While many people are diagnosed with cataracts in their 40s, the average age for cataract surgery is 65. That said, there is no one age that's better for cataract surgery than others. In fact, the average age for cataract surgery has been decreasing over the past few years.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, so it's important to protect yourself however you can.
Cataract surgery poses certain risks. You may need to stop taking medications prior to surgery, which could put your health at risk. After surgery, your eyes need to heal, and you'll have to wear an eye patch for several days. You might experience itching, discomfort, or pain during this process.
How painful is cataract surgery? Most people feel little or no pain during or after cataract surgery. You'll receive a topical anesthetic (eye drops) to numb your eye during the surgery. Shortly after surgery, your eye may feel gritty or slightly tender, but over-the-counter pain medicine should improve this.
Bloodshot or red eye after cataract surgery
A red or bloodshot eye after surgery is very common. It is normally caused by inflammation and/or a broken blood vessel, also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. This can create a scary-looking red spot on the eye, but it is usually harmless and heals on its own.
However, cataracts do not cause floaters. In fact, cataracts and floaters affect two completely different areas of the eye.
Cataracts are a progressive condition which means that without treatment, your vision will get worse over time. In the case of age-related cataracts, the condition usually progresses slowly over a number of months or years.
While many people will obtain 20/20 vision from their IOL, 30 to 50 percent of people who choose a monofocal IOL will still require corrective lenses after surgery. Schedule a consultation with an eye doctor near you to see if you qualify for surgery.
Cataract surgery is the only way to remove cataracts and restore your clear vision. During cataract surgery, an ophthalmologist removes your clouded natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is an artificial lens that permanently stays in your eye.
Eyeglasses as a Treatment Option
Eyeglasses will not permanently fix cataracts, and your condition can continue to worsen. You can change your prescription over time to try and continuously combat the effects of cataracts, but eventually, the condition of your eyes may necessitate having to receive cataract surgery.
Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract, but you may not need to get surgery right away.
Researchers say 30% to 50% of people who had cataract surgery need glasses after cataract surgery. Whether you'll be one of them is based on several factors.
When left untreated, cataracts become denser and further impair vision. If a cataract is left untreated for too long, it becomes what is sometimes called “hyper-mature.” When this occurs, the cataract has become more dense, more difficult to remove, and more likely to cause complications during surgery.
There is no single recommended age to get refractive cataract surgery. Cataracts normally develop after age 40, and some people elect for early intervention to restore their vision sooner.
Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts
Subcapsular cataracts can interfere with reading and create halo effects and glare around lights. People who use steroids or have diabetes, extreme nearsightedness, and/or retinitis pigmentosa may develop this type of cataract.
Traumatic cataracts may be difficult to remove if the trauma affected the lens zonules, or the cataract is very dense.
Stage 4: The Moderate Cataract
The lens may be yellow (nuclear cataract). There may be white spokes radiating from the sides (cortical cataract). Spots can collect on the posterior surface of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataract). All cataracts cause blur, glare, and loss of contrast.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.