What it is
Smoking, diabetes, long-term steroid use, too much sunlight and eye injuries raise the risk.
Surgery is usually offered when cataracts affect daily life, such as reading or driving. Stronger glasses may help for a while before that.
Common signs
- Blurred, cloudy or misty vision
- Colours looking faded
- Glare and halos around lights, especially at night
- Difficulty seeing in dim light
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
How it is usually diagnosed
- Eye test at an optician
- Examination by an eye specialist with dilating drops
- Measurements of the eye before surgery (biometry)
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Eye test results and glasses prescriptions
- Ophthalmology letters
- Operation notes, including the type and power of the lens implant
- Post-operative check results
Questions to ask your doctor
- Is it time for surgery, and which eye first?
- Which lens implant is right for me?
- Will I still need glasses afterwards?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- After cataract surgery: increasing pain, redness or sudden loss of vision needs same-day help from the eye unit
- Sudden loss of vision at any time
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.