Understanding Cataract Symptoms

Cataract is a malfunction of the human lens. It actually is an opacity or cloudiness of the natural lens inside the eye. Cataract comes often – but not exclusively – with old age, and it’s very common among old people.

The amount of lens opacity is influenced by various factors and differs from person to person. Most people who suffer from cataract have it in both eyes, but it’s also possible to have it in one eye only.

Cataract is not contagious from one eye to the other, or between persons, and once it is removed completely, it will not come back. Cataract can start very mild, and there’s a huge difference between people in how fast it progresses. If cataract comes with old age, it can progress through years, while in traumatic cataracts, it can mature in days or even hours.

Cataract Symptoms

The most common symptoms of developing cataracts are:

1. Cloudy or blurred vision that gradually gets worse over time. There shouldn't be any pain associated with your blurred vision. Eyes that are painful and red are more likely to be effected by glaucoma rather than cataracts. You should see a doctor immediately if there is sudden and complete loss of vision.

Young people are more likely to notice the blurring, even if they only have mild cataract symptoms. Older people are less likely to report blurred vision even if their cataracts are more advanced. Distance vision is usually more blurred than near vision. As a cataract thickens, even reading vision can start to get blurry.

2. Lower contrast between colors.

3. Increased levels of glare when you are faced with bright sunlight, or headlights during night time driving.

4. You may start to see a halo around lights, even during the daytime.

5. Night vision will start to decrease and you will have trouble seeing when it is dark.

6. Double vision can occur when cataract occurs in one eye(also referred to as monocular double vision). If you cover one eye, you will still have double vision. This is one symptom that may actually disappear as the cataracts get worse.

7. If you wear prescription glasses, you might find that they need to be changed frequently as the refractive power of your eyes changes.

8. One unusual symptom is that your near vision may actually improve and become clearer without the use of prescription glasses. This phenomenon is called "second sight".

Though these symptoms may all point to possible cataracts, they can also indicate other potential eye problems. If you experience any of these above symptoms, you should make an appointment with an eye care professional as soon as possible.