What are the Key Symptoms of Cataract

Understanding Cataract Types, Symptoms and Risk Factors

With age, our eyes, once sharp and bright, may start to deteriorate and become dim or blurred. We usually attribute this to inadequate lighting or eye tiredness, not considering a very likely suspect: cataracts. These opaque spots on the eye's natural lens are the leading cause of visual impairment globally, most commonly in the elderly.

Although cataracts form over time, they can hugely impact everyday activities if not addressed promptly. Fortunately, with improved ophthalmic treatment, cataracts are detectable and treatable.

Let’s discuss this condition more alongside the major cataract symptoms, their causes, and types.

Understanding Cataracts: What are They?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens that results in blurred or distorted vision. It happens when proteins in the lens start to degenerate and agglomerate, making the lens cloudy, yellowish, or opaque. Cataracts have several causes. The most common is age-related (senile) cataracts. Other types include traumatic cataracts (from eye injuries), secondary cataracts (linked to diseases like diabetes or medications like corticosteroids), and congenital cataracts (present at birth).

Cataracts are not an infection and cannot spread from one eye to the other. However, they very commonly develop in both eyes, particularly age-related cataracts, though they often progress at different rates. Some common cataract signs and symptoms include cloudy vision, pale colors, glare, and halos around light. If left untreated, these may eventually significantly hinder everyday activities.

Common Symptoms of Cataracts

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of cataracts stated below is essential for early diagnosis and effective treatment:

• Blurry or Cloudy Vision : Cloudy or blurry vision is one of the initial and first noticeable symptoms of cataracts. It's as if you are gazing through a foggy window, and routine activities such as reading, driving, or identifying faces become challenging. Blurriness in one or both eyes is common and tends to increase over time.
• Dim Vision at Night : As cataracts advance, they decrease the quantity of light entering the eye, and this makes it hard to see in dim light. Most individuals report night driving as very problematic due to this reduced contrast sensitivity. Furthermore, low-light areas can make it difficult to travel safely.
• Sensitivity to Light : Light sensitivity, or photophobia, is a frequent problem, particularly in sunlight or well-lit rooms. This occurs because cataracts diffuse incoming light, causing the eyes to be more sensitive to brightness. Individuals will find themselves closing their eyes more or sporting sunglasses indoors.
• Glare and Halos Around Lights : A frequent symptom of cataracts is seeing halos and glare around lights. Headlights and streetlights can look larger, fuzzy, or ringed with starbursts. These distortions can be hazardous to vision, especially while driving at night.
• Dim or Washed-Out Colors : Cataracts may diminish the vibrancy of colors. Everything can appear washed out, taking on a yellowish or brownish hue, similar to viewing everything through an old sepia filter. This alteration in color vision is a major marker and symptom of cataracts that impacts the quality of life.
• Double Vision in One Eye : Certain cataracts may cause double vision or ghosting in the affected eye. This happens because the cataract causes the light to bend when passing through the lens, essentially breaking a single image into two. It can be disturbing and affect reading or concentration on tasks.
• Frequent Changes in Prescription : If you frequently change your spectacles or contact lens prescription and find no improvement in your vision, it could be a cataract. The foggy lens continuously alters how light passes through the eye, so your vision is unstable and needs to be corrected frequently.
• Trouble with Contrast and Detail : Reading small print or viewing objects against equally colored backgrounds becomes harder. Such loss of contrast sensitivity renders normal activities—such as identifying stairs, roads, or faces in low light conditions—even more effortful and potentially dangerous.
• Yellow or Brown Tint in Vision : As the lens continues to become harder and cloudy, it may assume a brownish or yellowish hue, which subsequently casts a yellowish color on your vision. This is caused by nuclear sclerosis and becomes more intense as the cataract advances, warping the way you perceive things in the world around you.
• Improved Near Vision Temporarily ("Second Sight") : Some people may experience a short-term enhancement in their near vision, known as "second sight," especially those who are farsighted. This occurs because the lens shape changes, allowing for clearer close-up vision. However, at the same time, it can make distant objects look hazier.
• Difficulty with Glare During the Day : Apart from driving problems at night, day glare—particularly from reflective surfaces or sun glare—may become troublesome. This is commonly one of the first signs of cataracts, especially with cortical cataracts that cause light to be scattered more strongly.
• More Difficulty in Seeing in Low Light or Shade : Your vision for distinguishing between light and dark areas deteriorates. For example, noticing a dark object on a dark surface is very difficult, even in relatively well-lit conditions. This could result in more frequent tripping or bumping into objects at home.

Causes and Risk Factors of Cataracts

Mentioned below are some of the common causes and risk factors that can lead to cataracts:

• Age
• Certain systemic diseases, particularly chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, as well as Wilson's disease
• Congenital disorders such as galactosemia, prematurity, and hereditary cataract
• Long-term steroid use for conditions like arthritis or lupus
• Prenatal infections, like maternal rubella during pregnancy
• Various medications, such as mydriatic eye drops, heart rhythm medications, lipid-lowering agents, and tamoxifen for breast cancer, among others.
• Phenothiazine drugs are used for specific schizophrenia types, including bipolar disorder.
• Excessive exposure to high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation without protective eyewear
• Radiation treatment directed at the upper body or head
• Injuries or contusions around the eye, such as metal or stone fragments entering the eye or torn tissues within the eyeball, heighten the risk of cataract development
• Electric shocks
• Chemical exposure
• Ocular conditions, including eye inflammation, uveitis, eyeball infections, exfoliation syndrome, anterior segment ischemia, and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), increase the likelihood of cataract formation
• Prior retinal or vitreous surgeries
• Secondhand smoke exposure
• Heavy alcohol intake

Knowing the Different Types of Cataracts

Having a clear idea about the different types of cataracts helps in timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Here are the different types of cataracts:

1. Nuclear Cataracts
2. Cortical Cataracts
3. Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts
4. Congenital or Pediatric Cataracts
5. Traumatic Cataracts
6. Secondary Cataracts
7. Radiation Cataracts
8. Anterior Subcapsular Cataracts
9. Posterior Polar Cataracts
10. Anterior Polar Cataracts
11. Lamellar or Zonular Cataracts
12. Post-Vitrectomy Cataracts
13. Christmas Tree (Polychromatic) Cataracts
14. Brunescent Cataracts
15. Diabetic Snowflake Cataracts

Cataracts can form silently, yet their impact on lifestyle and vision can be significant. Early identification of the signs and symptoms of cataracts and timely medical assistance can avert any severe impairment of vision.

With modern advancements in healthcare, cataracts are no longer a life sentence for poor vision. Take proactive care, keep your eye health as your first priority, and visit the best eye doctor to have a clear vision and a lively future ahead. Your eyesight deserves no less.