What are the symptoms of cataracts?
You probably won’t notice any symptoms during the earliest stages of cataract development. Cataracts can quietly progress for years before they affect your vision.
Blurred or cloudy vision is often among the first signs of cataracts. Cloudy vision can make it seem like you’re looking through a hazy piece of glass.
Other early signs of cataracts include colors that look dull, washed out or yellowed.
Since cataracts eventually affect your quality of vision, you might find yourself needing to update your eyeglass prescription more often than usual. Glasses or contact lenses will quickly need to be replaced with new ones.
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Cataracts can eventually result in a sensitivity to light called photosensitivity. This can make sunlight or artificial light seem brighter and more glaring than you’re used to.
At night, light sensitivity also makes headlights and street lamps look brighter and more distracting, often appearing with visual “halos” around them. This goes hand in hand with worsening night vision — the ability to see in low light.
Cataracts often develop at different rates in each eye, so they can cause double vision or visual ghosting in one eye. These cause a dim “clone” image to appear slightly off center from the original image.
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To summarize, cataract symptoms can include:
Illustrated by Laurie O'Keefe
Cloudy vision
Blurry vision
Colors that are less vibrant or yellowed
Vision prescriptions that need to be updated more often
Light sensitivity
Increased glare
Worsening night vision and difficulty driving at night
Double vision, usually in one eye
When you should see a doctor
If you think you have a cataract, an eye doctor can perform a few simple tests to find out for sure. If you are diagnosed with cataracts, an ophthalmologist can help you develop a plan for treatment, such as traditional or laser cataract surgery.
If any of the above symptoms are severe, or you notice sudden changes in your vision, visit a medical professional as soon as possible.
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Page published on Thursday, August 20, 2020
