RA
1
1
Mild severity
· Ophthalmology
Cataract
Clouded lens · Painless vision loss
The eye's lens gradually clouds, blurring vision over years. A 10-minute outpatient surgery restores sight in most cases.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Leading cause of blindness in India
- Typical age
- 60+ years
- Outlook
- Curable with surgery
- System
- Vision
Reviewed by a verified Ophthalmology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Aging — by far the commonest
- Diabetes
- Long-term steroid use
- Eye injury
- UV light exposure
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Gradual blurry vision
- Glare, halos around lights
- Difficulty driving at night
- Dull colours
- Frequent prescription changes
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Cataract surgery (phacoemulsification)
- Multifocal IOL options
- Outpatient procedure
- Eye drops 4 weeks after
- Glasses fine-tune residual
Staying ahead
Prevention
- UV-protective sunglasses
- Control diabetes
- Limit unnecessary steroid use
- Annual eye check after 60
Do’s
- Wear UV-protective sunglasses
- Get cataract done when it limits activity
- Take eye drops as prescribed
- Get the second eye done when ready
Don’ts
- Rub eyes after surgery
- Trust drops that 'dissolve' cataracts
- Drive at night with severe glare
- Delay until lens hardens
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.