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Cataract
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Older Adults

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that blocks light, often developing with age and potentially leading to vision loss if left untreated.

What are cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it does not spread from one eye to the other. Cataracts usually develop slowly, and while brighter lighting or new eyeglasses may help initially, surgery may be required if they interfere with daily activities.

What causes cataracts?

Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process when the protein in the lens clumps together. Over time, these clumps grow larger and thicker, potentially turning the lens yellow or brown. Cataracts can also develop after an eye injury or surgery for another condition, such as glaucoma.

Who is more likely to develop cataracts?

Risk increases with age, and you may be at an increased risk if you:

  • Have certain health problems, like diabetes
  • Have a family history of cataracts
  • Have had an eye injury or eye surgery
  • Take steroid medicines
  • Smoke
  • Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
  • Have spent a lot of time in the sun

Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

  • Blurry or cloudy vision
  • Colors that seem faded
  • Glare from headlights, lamps, or sunlight
  • Halos around lights
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Double vision
  • Frequent changes in prescription
  • Trouble reading or doing everyday activities

Diagnosis and Treatment

A comprehensive eye exam, including a dilated eye exam, is the best way to check for cataracts. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. During the procedure, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Prevention

To help protect your eyes and potentially delay cataracts, you can:

  • Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to block ultraviolet (UV) sunlight.
  • Protect your eyes from injury when using power tools or playing sports.
  • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cataract surgery is rarely an emergency and is elective in most cases. The right time for surgery depends on functional impairment rather than visual acuity numbers alone. You should consider surgery when cloudiness interferes with essential daily activities, such as driving safely at night due to glare, reading without intense magnification, managing personal finances, or when reduced vision increases your risk of falling.
During cataract surgery, your natural clouded lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Standard monofocal IOLs provide sharp focus at one fixed distance (usually distance vision), meaning you will still need reading glasses for near tasks. Multifocal or extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOLs provide vision across multiple focal zones, reducing dependence on glasses, though they may carry a slightly higher risk of visual phenomena such as halos or reduced contrast sensitivity in dim lighting. Toric lenses are specialized options designed to correct pre-existing astigmatism.
Following surgery, patients should avoid rubbing or pressing on the treated eye, wear an eye shield while sleeping, and avoid heavy lifting (typically anything over 10 to 15 pounds) or bending below the waist, which can raise intraocular pressure. Additionally, you must keep water, soap, and shampoo out of the eye, and completely avoid swimming pools and hot tubs for at least two weeks to prevent severe bacterial infections.
cataract cannot physically regrow because the natural lens has been removed. However, months or years after surgery, the clear membrane capsule that holds the artificial lens in place can become cloudy or wrinkled. This common condition is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), often referred to as a 'secondary cataract.' It causes vision to blur again but can be permanently and painlessly corrected in a matter of minutes with an in-office outpatient procedure known as a YAG laser capsulotomy.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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