What Are Cataracts? Symptoms, Causes, & Vision Care

Cataracts are one of the most common age-related eye conditions, but they often develop so gradually that people may not realize their vision is changing at first.

You might notice that colours seem less vivid, nighttime driving feels more difficult, or bright lights create more glare than they used to. In the early stages, these changes may be subtle. Over time, however, cataracts can make everyday activities such as reading, driving, watching television, or recognizing details more challenging.

At Doctors Eyecare Wetaskiwin, comprehensive eye care includes the diagnosis and management of cataracts alongside other common eye conditions. Understanding what cataracts are, what causes them, and when to have your eyes examined can help you make informed decisions about your vision.

What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy area that develops in the natural lens of the eye.

Normally, this lens is clear and helps focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. As a cataract develops, changes within the lens make it increasingly cloudy. This prevents light from passing through and focusing as clearly as it once did.

The National Eye Institute explains that cataracts commonly develop when proteins within the eye's lens begin to break down and clump together. This process can make vision appear blurry, hazy, or less colourful.

Most cataracts develop gradually and are associated with aging, although they can occur for other reasons as well.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Cataracts?

You may not notice any symptoms when a cataract first begins developing.

As the cataract becomes more significant, you may experience changes such as:

Blurry or cloudy vision
Colours appearing faded or yellowish
Increased sensitivity to bright light
Glare from headlights, lamps, or sunlight
Halos around lights
Difficulty seeing clearly at night
Needing brighter lighting to read
Double or ghosted vision in one eye
Frequent changes to an eyeglass or contact lens prescription

Because these symptoms can also occur with other eye conditions, it is important not to assume that cataracts are necessarily responsible. A comprehensive eye examination can determine what is affecting your vision.

You can explore additional eye care options offered by the clinic through its services.

Why Do Cataracts Develop?

Aging is the most common cause of cataracts.

Changes within the lens begin naturally as we get older. The National Eye Institute notes that proteins in the lens begin to break down after about age 40, although noticeable vision problems may not develop until many years later.

Age is not the only factor, however.

Certain conditions and lifestyle factors may increase the likelihood that cataracts will develop or progress more quickly.

These include:

Diabetes
A family history of cataracts
Smoking
Significant exposure to ultraviolet sunlight
Previous eye injuries
Previous eye surgery
Radiation treatment
Certain steroid medications

Cataracts may also occur at younger ages or, less commonly, in children.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop significant cataracts, but it can make regular eye examinations even more important.

Can Cataracts Develop in Both Eyes?

Yes. Cataracts can develop in one eye or both eyes.

However, a cataract cannot spread from one eye to the other. One eye may also develop a cataract more quickly than the other, meaning the amount of vision change can differ between your eyes.

This difference may initially be difficult to recognize because you use both eyes together during most daily activities.

That is another reason routine eye examinations are useful. Your optometrist can evaluate each eye separately and detect changes that might otherwise be easy to overlook.

How Are Cataracts Diagnosed?

Cataracts can be detected during a comprehensive eye examination.

Your eye doctor may check your visual acuity, update your prescription, examine the lens with specialized equipment, and evaluate other structures within your eyes.

A dilated eye examination may also be performed. Dilating drops temporarily widen the pupil, giving your eye care provider a better view of the lens, retina, optic nerve, and other internal structures.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that cataract evaluation can include visual acuity testing, refraction, slit-lamp examination, and examination of the retina and optic nerve.

Doctors Eyecare Wetaskiwin provides comprehensive eye examinations as well as eye disease management for conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Do Cataracts Always Require Surgery?

Not immediately.

If a cataract is mild and your vision still allows you to comfortably perform everyday activities, your optometrist may recommend monitoring it.

In the earlier stages, vision may sometimes be improved by:

Updating your eyeglass prescription
Using brighter lighting when reading
Reducing glare
Wearing appropriate sunglasses outdoors
Using magnification when necessary

Cataract surgery is the only way to remove a cataract, but surgery is generally considered when the cataract begins interfering significantly with daily life.

The decision is based less on the simple presence of a cataract and more on how much it affects your vision and activities.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

During cataract surgery, an eye surgeon removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens known as an intraocular lens, or IOL.

Your eye care provider or surgeon will discuss whether surgery is appropriate, what type of lens may be recommended, and what to expect before and after the procedure.

Not everyone with a cataract needs surgery right away. The timing should be based on your individual symptoms, visual needs, overall eye health, and professional recommendations.

Regular monitoring helps ensure that changes are identified and discussed at the appropriate time.

Can You Prevent Cataracts?

There is no guaranteed way to prevent age-related cataracts completely, but certain habits may help protect your eyes and reduce avoidable risk factors.

The National Eye Institute recommends protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light, avoiding smoking, wearing protective eyewear when there is a risk of eye injury, and maintaining healthy eating habits.

Managing health conditions such as diabetes is also important because diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cataract development.

Wearing sunglasses that provide good UV protection is one simple habit that can become part of your everyday eye care routine.

When Should You See an Optometrist?

Arrange an eye examination if you begin noticing persistent changes such as blurred vision, increased glare, difficulty driving at night, fading colours, or frequent prescription changes.

You should also continue with routine comprehensive eye exams even when your vision seems normal. Cataracts may begin developing before they significantly interfere with everyday sight.

An optometrist can determine whether cataracts are responsible for your symptoms and also check for other eye conditions that may cause similar changes.

Sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, new flashes of light, or a sudden increase in floaters are not typical gradual cataract symptoms and should be assessed promptly.

Keep an Eye on Gradual Vision Changes

Cataracts are common, particularly as we get older, and having one does not necessarily mean immediate treatment or surgery is required.

The most important step is knowing what is happening with your eyes.

Regular eye examinations can identify cataracts, monitor their progression, keep your prescription current, and help determine when additional care may be appropriate.

If your vision has become cloudy, nighttime driving has become more difficult, or you simply want to stay on top of your eye health, contact us today to connect with Doctors Eyecare Wetaskiwin. To learn more or schedule an eye examination, email reception@wetaskiwineyecare.com.

What Are Cataracts? Symptoms, Causes & Eye Care