Cataract Symptoms

Common cataract symptoms include blurry vision, glare (lights seem brighter than usual), and double vision. Other symptoms of cataracts include poor night vision and frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contacts. For people with a "ripe" (more developed) cataract, symptoms may include difficulty reading.

 

Cataract Symptoms: An Introduction

A cataract starts out small and has little effect on vision at first. You may notice that your vision is a little blurry -- like looking through a cloudy piece of glass.
 
A cataract may make light from the sun or a lamp seem too bright, causing a glare. Or, you may notice when you drive at night that the oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. Also, colors may not appear as bright to you as they once did.
 
As the cataract gets bigger and clouds more of the lens (doctors use the term "ripens"), you may find it harder to read and do other normal tasks. The word "cataract" means "waterfall," and for people with a ripe cataract, it is like trying to see through a waterfall.
 

Other Cataract Symptoms

Other cataract symptoms may include:
 
  • Poor night vision
  • Double vision or multiple images in one eye (this cataract symptom may go away as the cataract gets larger)
  • Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
     

Cataract Symptoms: Summary

The symptoms described above are not sure signs of a cataract. Other eye problems can also cause these symptoms. Anyone with these possible cataract symptoms should see an eye care professional. Only a qualified eye care professional can diagnose and treat the problem.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD