What are cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. The lens is normally clear. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in adults worldwide.

Cataracts develop mostly in older people, but younger people can also get cataracts.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Cataracts usually develop slowly, and you may not have any symptoms at first. They can affect one eye or both eyes.

If you have cataracts, you may:

• develop blurred, or foggy vision — you may have trouble reading, driving at night or seeing faces or other details clearly
• become sensitive to light and glare
• find that objects seem to have a brown or yellow shade
• have the sense of seeing double, or that things look distorted
• see ‘halos’ around lights

Cataracts don’t generally cause pain. However, some symptoms such as sensitivity to light may cause you discomfort.

When cataracts are advanced, the pupil of your eye may appear grey or white.

What causes cataracts?

Cataracts are caused by changes to the lens of your eye. The main causes are ageing and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.

Cataracts develop when proteins in the lens are damaged and clump together. This reduces the amount of light that can pass through the lens to your retina. This is what cause the loss of sight.

Am I at risk of getting cataracts?

If you are aged over 40 years you are more likely to develop cataracts than a younger person. Half of all Australians over 50 years are affected by cataracts. By the age of 70 or 80 years, almost everyone develops cataracts.

Some people are more at risk of developing cataracts, including if you have:

• a family history of cataracts
• diabetes
• smoked
• used corticosteroid medicines for long periods
• spent a lot of time exposed to ultraviolet light without good eye protection
• had eye injuries
• had some types of eye operations (for example, a vitrectomy)
• had radiation treatment, such as for cancer

In rare cases, babies are born with a cataract (congenital cataract).

When should I see a health professional?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, or have changes in your vision, you should see an optometrist as soon as you can.

If they are concerned about cataracts, your optometrist or doctor may refer you to an ophthalmologist (a specialist eye doctor).

They may arrange further investigations and possibly surgery.

How are cataracts diagnosed?

Cataracts can usually be diagnosed by an eye examination.

The optometrist will give you a thorough eye examination. They may examine your eyes with a slit lamp (an instrument that uses a powerful microscope), which can show the location of a cataract.

Even if you don’t have sight problems, if you are aged over 40 years you should visit an optometrist every 2 years to check for eye disease.

How are cataracts treated?

Once you have cataracts, the lens of your eye will stay cloudy — it won’t recover on its own.

Glasses and good lighting may help to improve your vision in the early stages of cataracts.

If a cataract is affecting your everyday life, then your doctor or eye specialist may suggest you have surgery. Surgery is the only effective way to remove a cataract. Not all cataracts need to be removed.

Cataract surgery

Surgical treatment of cataracts is very safe and painless. It usually involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial clear lens. The procedure is carried out by an ophthalmologist. It usually takes about half an hour.

If both eyes are affected, one eye is normally done first, and the other eye is done a few days or weeks later.

Cataract surgery is generally very successful in restoring sight. Once the clouded lens is replaced, a cataract won’t form again in that eye.

Can cataracts be prevented?

There are some things you can do to prevent or slow down the development of cataracts:

• wear wrap-around sunglasses and a hat when outdoors to protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation
• have regular eye examinations — they can detect cataracts at an early stage
• quit smoking
• if you have diabetes, maintain good control of your blood sugar levels can help reduce your risk of cataracts
• eating a health diet which includes fruit, vegetables and fish

Complications of cataracts

Cataracts can cause trouble with:

• mobility and driving, particularly at night
• your vision when there is significant glare
• your ability to do close work like reading due to blurry vision

Resources and support

Find support and services for people with low vision at Vision Australia. You can also find translated information about cataracts.

Learn more about cataract treatment around the world at The Fred Hollows Foundation.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline for advice on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.