Cataracts: Signs, Causes and Options
Valley Laser Eye Centre | Conditions
About Cataracts
What Are Cataracts?
Your vision is blurry because the lens inside your eye is becoming cloudy.
What Causes Cataracts?
Most cataracts develop with age or sometimes injury. There are a few exceptions of inherited genetics disorder or sometimes past eye surgery.
Long term use of steroids can also cause cataracts.
If you have diabetes, you are more at risk of developing cataracts.
The Symptoms
What Are The Signs of Cataracts?
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Clouded, blurred or dim vision
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Increasing difficulty with vision at night
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Sensitivity to light and glare
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Seeing “halos” around lights
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Fading or yellowing of colors
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Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens
The Options
What are my options to correct my vision?
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Cataract surgery with multifocal lens
This surgery will correct reading, mid and far distance vision even when there is presbyopia, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism
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Cataract surgery with Toric lens
This surgery will correct distance vision even when there is astigmatism.
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Cataract surgery with monofocal lens
This surgery will usually give good distance vision but will not correct astigmatism or near vision.
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Did You Know?
Cataracts will appear in most cases after the age of 65.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cataracts most commonly develop after the age of 60, although early signs can begin in your 50s. The natural lens inside the eye gradually becomes cloudy over time, which affects how light reaches the retina.
Cataracts usually develop slowly over several years. In early stages, vision changes may be mild, but the clouding of the lens gradually worsens and can eventually interfere with daily activities such as reading or driving.
Cataract surgery is usually recommended when vision problems begin to interfere with everyday activities, such as reading, driving, or recognizing faces. Your eye surgeon will evaluate the severity of the cataract and discuss whether surgery is appropriate.
Cataract surgery is typically a quick outpatient procedure, often taking about 15 to 30 minutes per eye. Most patients return home the same day and begin noticing improved vision shortly afterward.
Most patients notice clearer vision within a few days, although the eye may continue healing for several weeks. Your surgeon will provide eye drops and follow-up care to support proper healing.
Once the cloudy natural lens is removed, the cataract cannot return. However, some patients may develop a cloudy membrane behind the lens implant called posterior capsule opacification, which can be treated with a quick laser procedure
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed and successful surgical procedures worldwide. With modern surgical techniques and advanced lens technology, most patients achieve significant improvement in vision.