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What are the early signs of cataract?

A cataract (motibindu in Konkani and Marathi, motiyabind in Hindi) is clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. It usually grows slowly, so the early signs are easy to blame on old spectacles, tiredness or age. Knowing them helps you get checked at the right time. For an overview of cataract care, see cataract surgery in Vasco, Goa.

What does early cataract feel like?

• Blurred or misty vision. Things look hazy, as if through a dirty window or a light fog, and cleaning your glasses does not help.
• Glare. Bright sunlight on the road or the sea feels harsh. At night, headlights and street lights have haloes or starbursts, and night driving becomes harder.
• Faded colours. Colours look dull or yellowish. Many people only notice how faded they were after surgery.
• Needing more light. Reading, sewing, cleaning rice or threading a needle needs a brighter lamp than before.
• Changing spectacle power. Your number changes often, or new glasses stop helping after a few months.
• Double or ghost images in one eye. One light looks like two, even with the other eye closed.
• Second sight. Some people find they can suddenly read without reading glasses. This is a change in the lens, not an improvement in the eye, and it usually does not last.

Cataracts are not all the same. Some start in the centre of the lens and slowly blur distance vision. Some start at the edges and cause glare. One type forms at the back of the lens, can grow faster, and troubles reading and bright light early; it is more common in people with diabetes and those who use steroid medicines.

Is it cataract or something else?

Many eye problems cause blurred vision, and some of them need treatment sooner than cataract does. The same signs can come from needing new spectacles, dry eye, diabetes changes in the retina, macular degeneration or glaucoma. Glaucoma often has no signs at all until late. Only an eye examination can tell them apart, which is why a full check-up is the first step. See eye check-up in Vasco.

Cataract does not come on suddenly. Sudden loss of vision, sudden eye pain, a red painful eye, flashes of light, a shower of floaters or a curtain over your vision are not cataract signs: they need urgent care. Emergency eye care at ReNew Vision is available 24 hours; see eye emergency.

Who should get checked early?

• Everyone over 40, at regular intervals your eye doctor advises
• People with diabetes, who tend to get cataract earlier; read cataract surgery for people with diabetes
• People who have used steroid tablets, inhalers or eye drops for a long time
• People who have worked for years in strong sunlight, such as fishermen, farmers and outdoor workers
• Anyone who has had an eye injury or eye surgery
• Parents who see a white patch in a child's pupil, which needs an eye examination without delay

Does a cataract need to ripen before surgery?

No. Many families still believe a cataract must become fully white, or "ripe", before it can be operated. That was true with the methods used decades ago. Today, surgery is advised when the cataract starts to affect your daily life, whatever its stage. Waiting for it to ripen can make things harder: a very mature cataract is tougher to remove, and over time it can cause inflammation or raise the eye pressure. In the same way, you do not have to wait for a cool season; see cataract surgery in the rainy season.

Can eye drops, exercises or diet remove a cataract?

No eye drop, tablet, eye exercise, diet or home remedy has been shown to dissolve or reverse a cataract. Be wary of products that promise this; they cost money and can delay proper care. Some habits may help protect your eyes: wearing sunglasses and a hat in strong sun, not smoking, and keeping diabetes under control. But once a cataract affects your vision, surgery is the only treatment that removes it.

When is it time for surgery?

It is time to talk about surgery when the cataract makes daily life harder or less safe, for example:

• You struggle to read, use your phone, cook or do your work
• Night driving or riding has become difficult
• You miss steps or stumble, which raises the risk of a fall
• New spectacles no longer help enough

Your eye doctor may also advise surgery if the cataract prevents a clear view of the retina, or affects the eye pressure. What happens next is explained in cataract surgery: what to expect.

To get your eyes checked, visit ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco da Gama. The eye OPD is open Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm. Call or WhatsApp 072489 88039.

Questions patients ask

Can a cataract be treated without surgery?

In the early stages, a new spectacle power and better lighting can help for a while. But no drop or tablet removes a cataract. When it affects daily life, surgery is the only treatment that removes it.

How fast does a cataract grow?

Most cataracts grow slowly, over months or years. Some types, such as those linked to diabetes or steroid use, can grow faster. Regular check-ups show how quickly yours is changing.

Can young people get cataract?

Yes, though it is less common. Diabetes, steroid medicines, eye injury, eye inflammation and some conditions present from birth can cause cataract at a younger age.

Why does my spectacle power keep changing?

A growing cataract can change your spectacle power. High or unsteady blood sugar can also change it for a time. An eye check-up shows which one is the cause.

Can cataract cause blindness?

If left untreated for many years, a cataract can cause severe loss of sight. It is the main cause of blindness in people aged 50 and above in India, and timely surgery can treat it.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.