CataractSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye.
Lens opacity; Age-related cataract; Vision loss - cataract
The lens of the eye is normally clear. It acts like the lens on a camera, focusing light as it passes to the back of the eye.
Until a person is around age 45, the shape of the lens is able to change. This allows the lens to focus on an object, whether it is close or far away.
As a person ages, proteins in the lens begin to break down. This makes the lens less flexible so that it is harder to focus on near objects. Over time, the lens becomes cloudy. What the eye sees may appear blurry at all distances. This condition is known as a cataract.
Factors that may speed cataract formation are:
- Diabetes
- Eye inflammation
- Eye injury
- Family history of cataracts
- Long-term use of corticosteroids (taken by mouth) or certain other medicines
- Radiation exposure
- Smoking
- Surgery in the eye
- Too much exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight)
Cataracts develop slowly and painlessly. Vision in the affected eye slowly gets worse.
- Mild clouding of the lens often occurs after age 60. But it may not cause any vision problems.
- By age 75, most people have cataracts that affect their vision.
Problems with seeing may include:
- Being sensitive to glare
- Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision
- Difficulty seeing at night or in dim light
- Double vision
- Loss of color intensity
- Problems seeing shapes against a background or the difference between shades of colors
- Seeing halos around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions
Cataracts lead to decreased vision, even in daylight. Most people with cataracts have similar changes in both eyes, though one eye may be worse than the other. Often there are only mild vision changes.
For an early cataract, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) may recommend the following:
- Change in eyeglass prescription
- Better lighting
- Magnifying lenses
- Sunglasses
As vision gets worse, you may need to make changes around the home to avoid falls and injuries.
The only treatment for a cataract is surgery to remove it. If a cataract is not making it hard for you to see, surgery is usually not needed. Cataracts usually do not harm the eye, so you can have surgery when you and your eye doctor decide it is right for you. Surgery is usually recommended when you can't do normal activities such as driving, reading, or looking at computer or video screens, even with glasses.
Some research found that having cataract surgery is associated with a lower risk of dementia but more research is needed to determine if this association was cause and effect.
Some people may have other eye problems, such as diabetic retinopathy, that can't be treated without first having cataract surgery.
Sonia Yoo is an Ophthalmologist practicing medicine in Miami, Florida. Dr. Yoo is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cataract. She is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Cataract, Keratoconus, Astigmatism, Cataract Removal, and Corneal Transplant. Dr. Yoo is currently accepting new patients.
Kendall Donaldson is an Ophthalmologist practicing medicine in Plantation, Florida. Dr. Donaldson is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cataract. She is also highly rated in 21 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Cataract, Keratoconus, Macular Corneal Dystrophy Type 1, Cataract Removal, and Vitrectomy. Dr. Donaldson is currently accepting new patients.
Harvard Eye Associates
John Hovanesian is an Ophthalmologist practicing medicine in Laguna Hills, California. Dr. Hovanesian is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cataract. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Cataract, Pterygium, Astigmatism, Dry Eye Syndrome, and Cataract Removal. Dr. Hovanesian is currently accepting new patients.
Vision may not improve to 20/20 after cataract surgery if other eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, are present. Your eye doctor can often determine this in advance.
Early diagnosis and properly timed treatment are key to preventing permanent vision problems.
Although rare, a cataract that goes on to an advanced stage (called a hypermature cataract) can begin to leak into other parts of the eye. This may cause a painful form of glaucoma and inflammation inside the eye.
Contact your eye care professional for an appointment if you have:
- Decreased night vision
- Problems with glare
- Vision loss
The best prevention involves controlling diseases that increase the risk for a cataract. Avoiding exposure to things that promote cataract formation can also help. For example, if you smoke, now is the time to quit. Also, when outdoors, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
Summary: Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystemic disorder that causes progressive disability and shortened life expectancy. It is characterized by progressive weakness and myotonia, which preferentially affects the craniofacial, hand, and distal leg muscles. Many patients also experience difficulties with cognition, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory failure, or cataracts. Curr...
Summary: The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate a toric add-on intraocular lens (IOL) for the correction of high astigmatism in patients who have undergone keratoplasty and cataract surgery. As this patient group often suffers from significant preoperative residual astigmatism, there is a relevant clinical need for effective and safe refractive treatment options. The implantation of a toric add-on I...
Published Date: July 24, 2025
Published By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Cataract/Anterior Segment Summary Benchmark - 2024. Academy PPP Cataract and Anterior Segment Committee, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care. www.aao.org/summary-benchmark-detail/cataract-anterior-segment-summary-benchmark-2020. Updated December 2024. Accessed August 18, 2025.
Chen SP, Woreta F, Chang DF. Cataracts: a review. JAMA. 2025;333(23):2093-2103. PMID: 40227658 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40227658/. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.
Cioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.
Ma LZ, Zhang YR, Li YZ, et al. Cataract, cataract surgery, and risk of incident dementia: a prospective cohort study of 300,823 participants. Biol Psychiatry. 2023;93(9):810-819. PMID: 35940935 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35940935/.
Wevill M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, causes, morphology, and visual effects of cataract. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 5.5.