Changes in your eyesight can happen so gradually that you may not immediately realise something is different. Perhaps headlights have started bothering you more at night, colours do not seem as bright as they once did, or your vision feels slightly cloudy even when you are wearing your glasses.
These changes can have several causes, and cataracts are one possibility.
A cataract develops when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts often develop slowly, and in their earliest stages they may cause few or no noticeable symptoms. As they progress, however, they can make vision increasingly blurry, hazy or less colourful.
The important thing to remember is that symptoms alone cannot confirm that you have cataracts. An eye examination is needed to determine what is causing changes in your vision.
Related reading: Common Eye Conditions and Vision Problems
How Do I Know If I Have Cataracts?
You might begin to suspect cataracts if your eyesight is gradually becoming cloudy or blurry, you are having more difficulty seeing at night, bright lights produce uncomfortable glare, or colours seem less vivid than before.
However, these symptoms can also occur with other eye conditions.
An optometrist or ophthalmologist can examine your eyes to determine whether cataracts are responsible. This may involve checking your vision and examining the lens and other structures inside your eyes.
Here are 10 signs that may occur with cataracts.
1. Blurry or Cloudy Vision
One of the most recognisable symptoms of cataracts is vision that gradually becomes blurry, cloudy, hazy or misty.
It may feel as though you are looking through a dirty or fogged window.
Because cataracts often develop slowly, the change may initially be subtle. You might compensate without noticing until reading, driving or recognising fine details becomes more difficult.
2. Difficulty Seeing at Night
Cataracts can make seeing in dim lighting more difficult.
You might notice problems when:
- driving after dark
- walking in poorly lit areas
- reading in low light
- moving from a bright environment into a darker one
Night driving can become particularly troublesome because reduced visibility may occur together with increased glare from headlights and streetlights.
3. Headlights and Bright Lights Cause More Glare
Lights that previously seemed normal may begin to appear excessively bright or uncomfortable.
Sunlight, streetlights and approaching car headlights can produce troublesome glare.
For some people, increasing sensitivity to glare is one of the changes that first makes them realise their eyesight needs to be checked.
4. You See Halos Around Lights
Another possible symptom is seeing glowing circles or halos around lights.
You may notice them particularly around:
- car headlights
- streetlights
- lamps
- other bright lights at night
If halos are new or becoming more noticeable, it is worth discussing them during an eye examination.
5. Colours Look Faded
Cataracts can change the way colours appear.
Colours that once looked bright may begin to appear:
- faded
- dull
- less vibrant
- slightly yellowed
Because this change can happen gradually, you may not immediately recognise how much your colour perception has changed.
Related reading: How to Protect Your Eyes and Keep Your Vision Healthy
6. You Need Brighter Light to Read
You may find yourself turning on additional lights or increasing screen brightness to read comfortably.
Activities involving fine detail can also become more difficult as a cataract progresses.
Reading, watching television, sewing or performing other detailed everyday tasks may gradually require more effort.
7. Your Glasses Prescription Keeps Changing
Needing a new glasses or contact-lens prescription occasionally is normal.
However, cataracts can sometimes cause changes in vision that result in more frequent prescription adjustments.
A changing prescription does not automatically mean you have cataracts. If your eyesight continues changing, an eye examination can help establish the reason.
8. Double Vision in One Eye
Cataracts can sometimes cause double or multiple images when looking through the affected eye.
You might see a faint second image or “ghost” image alongside the main object.
Double vision can have causes other than cataracts, however. New or unexplained double vision should therefore be professionally assessed rather than assumed to be caused by cataracts.
9. Reading or Seeing Fine Details Becomes Harder
Words may become less distinct, faces may be more difficult to recognise from a distance, or details that once appeared sharp may begin to look blurred.
Some people first notice these changes while:
- reading
- watching television
- using a computer
- recognising faces
- driving
- doing detailed work
If ordinary activities are becoming noticeably more difficult because of your eyesight, arrange an eye examination.
10. Everyday Activities Are Becoming More Difficult
The significance of a cataract is not determined simply by whether one is present.
What also matters is how much it affects your vision and everyday life.
You may begin struggling with:
- reading
- driving
- recognising faces
- watching television
- working in dim lighting
- hobbies requiring detailed vision
When cataracts significantly interfere with everyday activities, an eye-care professional can discuss the available treatment options with you.
What Are the First Signs of Cataracts?
There may be few or no noticeable symptoms during the earliest stages of a cataract.
As the lens becomes increasingly cloudy, you may begin noticing subtle changes such as:
- slightly blurry or cloudy vision
- increased sensitivity to bright lights
- difficulty seeing at night
- colours appearing less vivid
- halos around lights
- needing more light for reading
- changes in your glasses prescription
Because cataracts often progress slowly, it can be easy to adapt to these changes without immediately realising how much your vision has altered.
Regular eye examinations can therefore be important, particularly as you get older or if you have other risk factors for eye disease.
What Does Vision Look Like With Cataracts?
People experience cataracts differently, but vision may gradually appear:
- cloudy
- blurry
- misty
- less colourful
- less detailed
- more difficult in dim lighting
- affected by glare from bright lights
Some people describe the experience as looking through a foggy or dirty window.
However, cataracts do not produce exactly the same visual changes in everyone.
Can You Have Cataracts Without Knowing?
Yes.
A mild cataract may cause little or no noticeable change in vision.
Because cataracts frequently develop slowly, you may also adapt to gradually changing eyesight without appreciating how much it has deteriorated.
An eye examination may identify a cataract before it is causing substantial problems with everyday activities.
Can Cataracts Affect Only One Eye?
Yes.
Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes.
If both eyes are affected, the cataracts do not necessarily develop or progress at the same rate. One eye may therefore have noticeably poorer vision than the other.
A cataract does not spread from one eye to the other.
Can You See a Cataract by Looking in the Mirror?
You should not rely on looking in a mirror to determine whether you have a cataract.
A very advanced cataract may sometimes cause a visible change in the appearance of the pupil, but cataracts can affect vision without producing an obvious change that you can see yourself.
Trying to diagnose cataracts from the appearance of your eyes in a mirror or photograph is therefore unreliable.
A professional eye examination is the appropriate way to determine whether a cataract is present.
How Quickly Do Cataracts Develop?
Cataracts commonly develop gradually, often over years.
However, the speed of progression varies from person to person. Different types of cataracts can also progress differently.
Some people may have a cataract for a long time before it significantly interferes with their daily activities.
Having a cataract therefore does not automatically mean you need immediate surgery.
How Are Cataracts Diagnosed?
An eye-care professional can examine your eyes and determine whether the lens has become cloudy.
The assessment may include:
- checking how clearly you can see
- testing your glasses prescription
- examining the front and internal structures of the eye
- dilating your pupils when appropriate so the inside of the eye can be examined more thoroughly
The examination is also important because another eye condition may sometimes be responsible for your symptoms.
Could My Vision Problems Be Something Other Than Cataracts?
Yes.
Blurred or changing vision has many possible causes.
For example, changes in your glasses prescription and various eye conditions can cause symptoms that overlap with cataracts.
That is why a symptom checklist should be used as general information rather than as a way to diagnose yourself.
If your vision has changed, an eye examination can help determine what is actually causing the problem.
Related reading: Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
When Should You Have Your Eyes Checked?
Arrange an eye examination if you notice persistent or worsening changes in your eyesight, particularly if they are beginning to interfere with reading, driving, working or other everyday activities.
You should also seek professional advice if you develop new visual symptoms that you cannot explain.
Cataracts generally cause gradual changes. Sudden vision loss, severe eye pain or a sudden major change in vision should not simply be assumed to be cataracts and may require urgent medical assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cataracts start suddenly?
Most age-related cataracts develop gradually rather than suddenly.
If your eyesight changes suddenly or significantly, do not assume cataracts are responsible. Seek appropriate professional assessment.
Do cataracts always affect both eyes?
No.
A cataract may affect one or both eyes. When both eyes are affected, one eye may be worse than the other.
Can glasses correct cataracts?
A new glasses prescription may improve vision for some people, particularly during earlier stages.
However, glasses cannot remove the cloudy lens that causes a cataract.
Do all cataracts require surgery immediately?
No.
A cataract does not automatically require immediate surgery.
Treatment decisions usually take into account how much the cataract affects your vision and ability to perform everyday activities.
Can cataracts make night driving difficult?
Yes.
Cataracts can make seeing in low light more difficult and can increase glare from headlights and other bright lights, potentially making night driving more challenging.
If your vision is affecting your ability to drive safely, have your eyesight assessed.
How can I confirm whether I have cataracts?
The appropriate way to confirm whether you have cataracts is through an eye examination.
Symptoms may suggest a cataract, but an eye-care professional needs to examine your eyes to determine the cause of your vision changes.
The Bottom Line
If you are asking “How do I know if I have cataracts?”, look for gradual changes such as cloudy or blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, increased glare, halos around lights, faded colours and changes in your glasses prescription.
However, these symptoms are clues rather than a diagnosis.
You cannot reliably confirm cataracts yourself because several eye problems can cause similar symptoms.
If you have noticed persistent changes in your eyesight, arrange an eye examination. An eye-care professional can determine whether cataracts are responsible and advise you about what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Related Reading
- Common Eye Conditions and Vision Problems
- How to Protect Your Eyes and Keep Your Vision Healthy
- Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Sources and Further Reading
NHS — Cataracts in adults
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataracts/National Eye Institute — Cataracts
https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataractsMoorfields Eye Hospital — Cataract
https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/eye-conditions/cataractAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology — What Are Cataracts?
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have concerns about your eyesight or develop new or worsening visual symptoms, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare or eye-care professional.
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