We all depend on clear vision whether we have perfect eyesight or have to wear contact lenses and glasses. Some eye changes are expected as we get older, such as loss of the ability to read fine print and view objects close to your face. When the world starts to go blurry, you may not notice it at first or may write it off as part of the aging process, but it could be the start of cataracts. Cataracts are very common; it’s estimated around 2.5 million people aged over 65 have cataracts and it’s the main cause of impaired vision worldwide, and this treatable eye disease can make day-to-day life increasingly difficult.

Colours seem different

Cataracts can cause a yellow or brown hue, making the world look discoloured. You may not realise your colour vision is fading until blues and purples are hard to distinguish. Seeing the world through a diminished, discoloured lens may become your new normal, but cataract removal through surgery restores your once-vibrant eyesight.

Is it cloudy everywhere you look?

Your natural eye lens works like a camera, adjusting according to the light and distance of objects. A cataract throws everything out of focus because the light coming in through your eye is blocked and scattered by the cataract, causing blurry images. Your vision will grow foggier and filmier as the cataract gets denser, leading to darker vision that affects your ability to see while driving at night. You may experience glare and halos when you look at indoor lights, headlamps and streetlights, making it difficult to see even in the daylight.

Seeing double

Double vision is another symptom of cataracts that alters your everyday life and activities. This is separate from the double images caused by eye misalignment. Objects, people and text will split even if you have one eye open. A phenomenon called second sight sometimes happens when cataracts develop. You may find you don’t need reading glasses anymore as the cataract causes a temporary improvement in up-close vision, but that fades and worsens as the cataract progresses.

Despite being a leading cause of blindness, cataracts are curable through cataract surgery that removes the clouded natural lens and switches it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Premium IOLs do more than replace your natural eye lens. They can improve astigmatism and other refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia.

If you think you have cataracts, find out how we can help by booking in for a consultation.