6 Symptoms of Cataracts

More than 25 million Americans experience vision impairment from cataracts. While cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions, many people don’t know they have them. This is because cataracts develop slowly, as do their symptoms.

Fortunately, regular eye exams and screenings for cataracts prevent them from damaging your vision. As experts in cataract care, our team at Benjamin Optical discusses below six common symptoms of cataracts, so you can seek immediate eye care and prevent vision impairment.

Six symptoms of cataracts

Cataracts take time to develop, so the symptoms aren’t always noticeable off the bat. If you notice some or all of these symptoms, talk to one of our providers at Benjamin Optical.

1. Blurry or cloudy vision

One of the first and most common symptoms of cataracts is cloudy, blurry vision. You may not even notice this change in your vision at first, as it only affects a small section of your lens. However, over time, everything starts to slowly look more blurry, dim, or cloudy.

2. Sensitivity to light

Cataracts can cause increased sensitivity to glares or bright lights. In some cases, sensitivity to bright lights can be painful, and even impair your vision.

3. Difficulty seeing at night

Decreased nighttime vision usually occurs at more advanced stages of cataracts. Cataracts can change the color of your lens from clear to a yellowish or brownish color. This can compromise your vision, especially at night, making nighttime driving difficult and even dangerous. 

4. Double vision

If you start seeing double, there’s a good chance you may have cataracts. You may see two images of a single object in both eyes, which is binocular double vision, or only in one of your eyes, known as monocular double vision.

Double vision from cataracts can also cause ghosted vision. With ghosted vision, you see two images of one object, and the objects overlap.

5. Halos around lights

Cataracts cloud the lens of your eye. This clouding can diffract the light going into your eye, which can cause halos or rings to appear around lights. The rings may be a different color, and it can affect your ability to drive at night.

6. Needing more light to read or see clearly

When cataracts darken the lens of your eye, you may need more light in order to see clearly, regardless of whether it's daytime or nighttime. 

You may find yourself brightening your phone screen indoors, or needing more light to read something. However, more light or brightness may not improve your vision if your cataracts start to advance.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms of cataracts, take action. For more information on cataracts and treatment options, give our team at Benjamin Optical a call or book your appointment online.