Early Signs of Cataracts: Symptoms and When to Get Checked

Early cataracts may cause no symptoms at all. When signs do appear, they include cloudy or blurry vision, colors that look faded, trouble seeing at night, lamps or headlights that seem too bright, halos around lights, double vision, and needing a new glasses prescription often. Because cataracts usually develop slowly, you may not notice them at first. A comprehensive eye exam with dilation is how a cataract is found, and early on, new glasses and brighter lighting can help. Sudden changes are a different matter: sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it comes back, is a 911 call.

Key takeaways

You may not notice a cataract at first, and when signs appear they include blurry or cloudy vision, faded colors, glare, halos and trouble seeing at night.
An eye exam that includes dilating drops is how a cataract is found, and early on a new prescription and brighter lights can help you see.
Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract, and waiting until it limits reading, driving or TV usually won't harm your eyes.
Cataracts usually develop slowly, and sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it comes back, means calling 911.

What are the first cataract symptoms?

The National Eye Institute lists these symptoms of cataracts:

Cloudy or blurry vision
Colors that look faded
Trouble seeing well at night
Lamps, sunlight or headlights that seem too bright
A halo around lights
Double vision, which sometimes goes away as the cataract gets bigger
Needing to change your glasses or contact lens prescription often

MedlinePlus adds trouble reading or doing other everyday activities. The faded colors have a physical cause: the lens may turn yellow or brown, which can affect how you see colors.

The American Optometric Association describes the glare as increased sensitivity to glare from lights, particularly when driving at night, and lists increased difficulty seeing at night as a symptom of its own. Our guide to night vision and glare covers the other reasons night driving can get harder.

None of these symptoms belongs only to cataracts, so talk with your eye doctor about them; they could also be signs of other eye problems. Double vision that comes on suddenly is different: call 911.

Do cataracts cause blurry vision?

Yes. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye, the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light. That cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, which makes it harder to see clearly, and as a cataract gets worse, your vision can become blurry or dim.

It starts small. Around age 40, the proteins in the lens begin to break down and clump together, and the clump makes a cloudy area. Over time, the cataract gets worse and clouds more of the lens.

Blur has other causes, and dry eye is one of them: its symptoms include blurry vision along with a scratchy feeling and stinging or burning. An exam tells the causes apart, and our dry eye care page explains how we test the tear film.

How fast do cataracts get worse?

Usually slowly. Cataracts generally form very slowly, and in age-related cataracts, changes in vision can be very gradual. One type moves faster: a posterior capsular cataract, found in the back outer layer of the lens, often develops more rapidly.

Most cataracts develop in people over age 55. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, and a cataract can affect one or both eyes without spreading from one eye to the other.

Can cataracts cause blindness?

Without treatment, they can: untreated cataracts can cause severe or even permanent loss of vision. The CDC reports that cataract causes more blindness worldwide than any other condition, and more vision loss in the United States. Surgery is the treatment, and 9 out of 10 people who have it can see better afterward.

Who is more likely to get cataracts?

Most cataracts come with age. They happen because of normal changes in your eyes as you get older, and your risk goes up with age. NEI lists these other risk factors:

Diabetes or certain other health problems
Smoking
Drinking too much alcohol
A family history of cataracts
A past eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatment on your upper body
A lot of time in the sun
Steroid medicines, which treat health problems such as arthritis or allergies

Younger people can get them too. The CDC notes that cataracts can occur at any age and can be present at birth, and MedlinePlus says they can develop after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye condition, like glaucoma.

How do eye doctors check for cataracts?

With a comprehensive eye exam. Your provider does several tests of your vision and eye health, including a dilated eye exam, where special eye drops widen your pupils. NEI describes the exam as simple and painless.

If you're 60 or older, NEI advises a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years, and we recommend a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year after 60. The same exam checks for glaucoma, which usually has no symptoms at first.

What helps early cataracts before surgery?

At first, everyday changes can help. NEI says a new prescription for glasses or contact lenses can help you see better with cataracts early on, and it suggests:

Brighter lights at home or work
Anti-glare sunglasses
Magnifying lenses for reading and other activities

For night driving, anti-glare coatings on eyeglass lenses can help reduce glare. In some cases, changing the eyeglass prescription may provide temporary vision improvement, but there is no treatment to prevent or slow cataract progression.

Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract. Your doctor might suggest it once cataracts start getting in the way of everyday activities like reading, driving or watching TV, and waiting usually won't harm your eyes or make surgery more difficult later. Our page on cataract surgery co-management explains how we help you decide when surgery is worth it.

When is a change in vision urgent?

Cataracts usually develop slowly. Sudden symptoms need fast care, whatever the cause:

Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it comes back: call 911, at any hour. Sudden trouble seeing is a stroke warning sign, and the CDC says to call 911 right away; the American Stroke Association says to get help even if symptoms go away.
Sudden double vision, or double vision or a droopy eyelid that comes with a pupil that looks different, eye pain or a severe headache: call 911.
Any change in vision with face drooping, arm weakness or trouble speaking: call 911.
A dark curtain or shadow over part of your vision, new flashes of light, or a shower of new floaters: call us at 310-828-2010 right away for a same-day exam, or go to an emergency room when we're closed. These can be signs of a retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency.
Severe eye pain with headache, nausea or halos around lights: call us immediately for a same-day exam during office hours, or go to an emergency room when we're closed. Sudden intense eye pain, nausea, a red eye and blurry vision can mean angle-closure glaucoma, a medical emergency, and AOA adds halos or colored rings around lights to its symptoms.

Halos appear on both lists. A cataract brings them on gradually, as the cataract itself grows; halos that arrive suddenly with eye pain belong with the urgent symptoms above. Blur from a cataract comes on gradually too. Sudden blur on its own is different: if it clears right away, call us and come in for an exam; if it doesn't clear, go to an emergency room.

Our office hours are Monday 10am to 5pm and Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm. During those hours, call 310-828-2010; same-day urgent eye care appointments are available. When we're closed, go to an emergency room.

How we check for cataracts at Cohenmehr Optometry

Every comprehensive eye exam at Cohenmehr Optometry includes a glaucoma screening, a retinal evaluation and a look at the front of the eye, where we grade any cataract and check the cornea and lids.

When we find a cataract, we measure how much it affects your vision and keep your glasses current while surgery can wait; many early cataracts just need a prescription update. Our cataracts guide walks through that pathway.

When it starts to limit your day, we refer you to a trusted cataract surgeon with complete records, after explaining the implant choices in plain language. Your follow-up visits after surgery happen here, through co-managed cataract care. If you're noticing glare, faded colors or blur, book an exam or call 310-828-2010.

Questions patients ask

What is cataract surgery and how is it done?

Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens or IOL. You're usually awake, numbing drops keep you from feeling anything, and you can be given medicine to help you stay relaxed. A standard monofocal implant focuses on objects far away, so people who have one generally need glasses to see clearly up close; multifocal implants focus at several distances. A cataract surgeon does the operation, and your checks before and after can happen here.

Can eye vitamins prevent cataracts?

Not the AREDS eye vitamin formulas, according to the National Eye Institute. AREDS tested whether daily intake of certain vitamins and minerals could reduce the risk of cataract, and there was no effect on cataract. In the follow-up study, AREDS2, people with the lowest levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their diet who took a formula including those nutrients had, on average, a 32% reduction in progression to cataract surgery. Bring any supplements you take to your eye exam so we can go over them with you.

What are the eye symptoms of diabetes?

Often none at first: diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma) can begin without symptoms. Later signs can include blurry or wavy vision, day-to-day changes in vision, dark areas, poor color vision, floaters and flashes; tell your eye doctor about them. Diabetes can bring cataracts earlier and doubles the chances of glaucoma. NIDDK advises a dilated eye exam at least once a year, which our diabetic eye exams include. New flashes, a shower of floaters or a curtain over your vision need a same-day exam, or an emergency room when we're closed.

What can you do to keep your eyes healthy as you age?

Start with the steps the National Eye Institute recommends to protect your eyes: wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block the sun, wear protective eyewear when using power tools or playing certain sports, quit smoking, and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains. Then keep up with eye exams: NEI advises a dilated exam every 1 to 2 years from age 60, and we recommend a comprehensive exam at least once a year after 60. Our UV protection and sunglasses guide explains what to look for in a pair.

Sources

Written by

Dr. Kevin Cohenmehr, OD

Medical eye care: glaucoma, diabetic eye exams, macular degeneration and eye infections, plus vision therapy for children. A graduate of UCLA and SUNY College of Optometry.

About Dr. Kevin →

What Are the Early Signs of Cataracts?