Cataracts: Causes and symptoms

• Younger people who smoke, consume alcohol or spend a lot of time in the sun.


• Taking certain medications, such as corticosteroids.


• Injuries or intraocular surgery may also cause cataracts to develop more quickly.


• Patients with diabetes, arterial hypertension or myopia also have a higher risk of developing cataracts.


• Cataracts can also develop in a younger patient for no apparent reason whatsoever.

→ Blurry vision

The main symptom of cataracts is cloudy vision that is not corrected by glasses. Cloudy vision feels like you are looking through a glass or a bottle. This cloudy vision will prevent you from carrying out everyday activities, such as reading, writing or watching television. Since this is the most common symptom, it is very important that you see a specialist as soon as possible to prevent the cataracts from getting worse and leading to more severe loss of vision.

→ Photophobia

A patient with cataracts on their eyes will become intolerant to intense light, and may see halos when they look at light sources (streetlights, car headlights when driving at night). It will feel as if lights are too bright and dazzling, such as car headlights coming towards you, for example.

→ Colours will appear less bright

Cataracts will cause you to perceive colours differently, as if they have lost their intensity or are more faded.

→ Double vision

Cataracts can also produce multiple images, which is known as diplopia or double vision, and this may be caused by various different factors: from structural alterations to the eye, such as uncorrected refraction issues, cataracts or retina disorders, to misalignment of the eyes caused by strabismus, oculomotor nerve palsy or some form of neurological or muscular disorder.

→ Improved vision

In some cases, when a patient begins developing nuclear cataracts (cataracts associated with age) it may seem like their near vision has improved. This is known as second sight. For example, the patient may notice that they can now read without glasses, when before this was not possible.

→ Myopia

If you develop cataracts you may also develop myopia that you hadn’t suffered from before, meaning that objects in the distance will appear blurry.

→ Other symptoms of cataracts

The patient may notice regular changes to their prescription, whether it be for glasses or contact lenses, and they may have problems driving at night, for example. It is also important to note that cataracts will not cause any pain, itching, redness or floaters in your vision.