Health Tip: Understanding Cataract Symptoms

(HealthDay News) — A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that will affect vision if left untreated.

Half of Americans will have had a cataract by the time they are 80, the American Eye Institute says.

Risk factors for cataracts include diabetes, smoking, drinking alcohol and prolonged exposure to direct sun, the group says.

Here are typical symptoms of a cataract:

  • Cloudy or blurry vision.
  • Colors seem faded.
  • Glare that surrounds light sources.
  • Poor night vision.
  • Double vision. This symptom may clear as a cataract gets larger, the group says.
  • Frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses.