Do I have a cataract?

A cataract (clouding of the eye's natural lens) develops gradually. Many people only realise at their doctor's appointment how much their eyesight has declined. Seven questions help you put your symptoms into perspective.

Not a substitute for a medical examination

Typical symptoms of a cataract

The clouding of the lens shows itself in six different ways, and they do not always appear together.

Blurred vision

A creeping decline in sharpness, "like looking through frosted glass". Glasses can no longer correct it fully.

Sensitivity to glare

Halos and star-like effects around light sources, especially when driving at night or in direct sunlight.

Changes in colour vision

Yellowish or faded colours. Many patients only notice this after surgery, when the world suddenly looks more colourful.

Frequent changes of glasses

Your prescription changes rapidly. No new pair of glasses lasts long, a hint that the lens is altering its refractive power.

Double vision (one eye)

Double images in one eye that disappear when you close the other eye. A typical sign of a nuclear cataract.

"Second sight"

Suddenly reading better without reading glasses sounds positive, but it is an early sign of a cataract and no coincidence.

Who is particularly at risk?

Age-related cataract affects almost everyone sooner or later; from the age of 60, around 50% of people show first signs of lens clouding. Some factors speed up the development considerably.

Age over 60

The main risk factor. The risk rises markedly with every decade of life.

Diabetes mellitus

Raised blood sugar speeds up the clumping of proteins in the lens considerably.

UV radiation

Years of sun exposure without UV protection contribute to clouding of the lens.

Corticosteroids

Long-term use of cortisone preparations, whether as tablets or eye drops.

Eye injuries

A past blunt blow to the eye or earlier surgery can trigger a cataract much earlier in life.

Genetic predisposition

Clustering in families is well known. If your parents were affected early, your risk is higher.

When should you see an ophthalmologist immediately?

A cataract develops slowly and is not an emergency. The following symptoms, however, can point to other eye conditions that need to be checked without delay:

Sudden loss of vision in one eye

Can be a sign of retinal detachment or a blocked blood vessel.

Flashes of light or a sudden shower of dark spots

Typical warning signs of a beginning retinal detachment.

Severe eye pain with nausea

Possible acute glaucoma attack, an emergency.

Gaps in your field of vision (dark patches)

Can point to glaucoma or a condition of the macula.

Cataract, glaucoma or macular degeneration?

Several eye conditions can cause similar symptoms. This table offers a first orientation; a precise diagnosis is only possible through an eye examination.

Symptom	Cataract	Glaucoma	Macular degeneration
Blurred vision	✓ diffuse	✓ field of vision	✓ central
Glare	✓ strong	variable	variable
Pain	no	during an acute attack	no
Colours altered	✓ yellowish	no	distorted
Treatment	fully curable	controllable	partly