Cataracts

This page is about cataracts in adults. Find out about cataracts in children.

Symptoms of cataracts in adults

Symptoms of cataracts usually develop slowly.

You'll often have cataracts in both eyes but the symptoms may be different in each eye.

Symptoms include:

• blurred vision
• difficulty seeing at night
• difficulty reading and watching television
• your eyes being uncomfortable in, or sensitive to, light and glare
• looking at 1 object but seeing 2 (double vision)
• seeing glowing rings (halos) around lights
• colours look faded, especially blue

If you wear glasses, you may notice that you need to change the prescription of your glasses more often than usual.

See an optician if:

Causes of cataracts in adults

You may be more likely to get cataracts if:

• you're aged 60 or over
• you've had an eye injury or eye surgery in the past
• you have another eye condition, such as uveitis or being very short-sighted
• you've taken steroid medicines for long periods of time
• you smoke
• a parent, brother or sister has had cataracts
• you're a woman
• your eyes have been regularly exposed to a lot of sunlight without protection such as sunglasses

Some long-term health conditions can also increase your risk of getting cataracts, such as type 2 diabetes, severe dermatitis and high blood pressure.

Treatment for cataracts (cataract surgery)

Cataracts do not usually need treatment straight away.

Over time cataracts will get worse and you'll need cataract surgery if you want to to improve your sight.

A GP or eye specialist will talk to you about whether or not you want surgery. This may depend on:

• how cataracts are affecting your daily life
• if cataracts are in one or both eyes

If you decide to have surgery, there may be a wait for treatment. Ask your eye specialist how long you'll have to wait.

Cataract surgery is done under a local anaesthetic. This means you'll be awake but you will not feel any pain.

The cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial one. You should be able to go home on the same day.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, they'll be treated on separate days.

Find out more:

• Cataract surgery

How cataracts affect your life

Cataracts affect your sight and without treatment will eventually cause sight loss.

Using stronger glasses and brighter light for reading may help for a while.

For most people, cataract surgery will help to improve their vision. Recovery from surgery is quick and serious complications are rare.

Driving with cataracts

You may still be able to drive if your vision is good enough.

You must let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know if your eyesight does not meet the minimum standards needed for driving.

Ask an optician if you are not sure.

Find out more

• GOV.UK: eye conditions and driving

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