What are the causes and early signs of cataracts?

In most people, cataracts develop with age. As you grow older, the lens in the eye naturally becomes thicker, less transparent, and less flexible. Tissues in the lens can begin to break down and form clumps of protein that cloud small areas of the lens. Light cannot pass through these cloudy areas, which is why you may notice your vision becomes clouded or bleary.² As the cataract continues to grow, the cloudiness becomes more noticeable and involves larger parts of the lens.

Besides cloudy, dim, or blurred vision, there can be other symptoms associated with a cataract. These include difficulty with night vision, haloes around lights, sensitivity to glare, fading of colours, and double vision on one side. People with cataracts may find they require brighter lights to read. Also, frequent changes in your glasses or contact lens prescription can indicate cataracts.²

What are the treatment options for cataracts?

Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts and improves vision in the majority of people.³ Cataract surgery is done under local anaesthetic, so it is pain-free, but you can be sedated if you are particularly anxious.

There are two types of cataract surgery: small incision cataract surgery (phacoemulsification) and extracapsular cataract extraction. These surgeries are usually done on an outpatient basis, so you shouldn’t need to stay at the hospital overnight, and it usually takes less than an hour to perform.

What is phacoemulsification?

During this type of cataract surgery, the surgeon inserts a tiny ultrasound probe into the eye through a small incision. The probe helps soften and break up the cloudy lens, which is then removed by suction. Once the surgeon has removed the cataract, they will insert an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens) which will allow light to pass through to your retina, restoring your vision.

How does extracapsular cataract extraction work?

In extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), the surgeon will make a slightly larger incision to remove the clouded lens. As before, once the clouded lens has been removed, a new, transparent, intraocular lens is positioned in the same place from where the natural one was removed.

The new lens is made of plastic, silicone, or acrylic and remains in the eye permanently. It cannot be seen or felt. It improves vision by focusing light clearly on the retina.⁴

Can vision go blurry after cataract surgery?

It is normal to experience some post-surgery symptoms, such as some mild discomfort, itching or blurred vision.3,4 This is a normal part of the process and happens because your eye is healing and adjusting to the new intraocular lens.1 Your vision will start to improve a few days after your surgery.

How long does vision stay blurry after cataract surgery?

Blurred vision after cataract surgery may last for a week or two, and this is nothing to worry about. Complete healing of the eye can take up to eight weeks.3 If you have had this procedure recently, be vigilant for symptoms such as eye swelling and redness, persistent pain, vision loss, flashes of light, or floaters in front of the eye. If these symptoms occur, contact your eye surgeon as soon as possible.³

Blurred vision after cataract surgery is not unexpected, however, if it persists or occurs after a length of time after surgery (for example, if you begin to experience blurred vision two years after cataract surgery), it can be a sign of posterior capsule opacification.