Make an appointment for an eye exam if you notice any changes in your vision. If you develop sudden vision changes, such as double vision or flashes of light, sudden eye pain, or sudden headache, see your doctor right away.
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.
Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision. At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.
At the onset, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms, such as:
• Clouded, blurred or dim vision
• Increasing difficulty with vision at night
• Seeing "halos" around lights
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Need for brighter light for reading
and other activities
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Double vision in a single eye
Cataracts are detected through a comprehensive eye exam to determine if the patient is a candidate for cataract surgery. The evaluation process, which usually takes about two hours, includes a dilated eye exam and a series of diagnostic tests.
Make an appointment for an eye exam if you notice any changes in your vision. If you develop sudden vision changes, such as double vision or flashes of light, sudden eye pain, or sudden headache, see your doctor right away.