How can cataracts affect my vision?

Cataracts (clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye) are painless and progress slowly. Vision usually turns blurry, hazy, or dim, and glare from lights and the sun can be especially distressing. A person may experience double vision, as well as a distorted image; in the early stages, the eye may even become more nearsighted because the denser the lens, the greater its refracting power. Night vision worsens, and colors appear duller. Because most cataracts develop very slowly, people often don't understand what is wrong until the decline in visual acuity forces them to seek frequent changes in their eyeglass or contact lens prescription. These efforts become fruitless, however, because corrective lenses cannot reverse the opacity of cataract.

Anyone who experiences blurring or eye fatigue should visit an ophthalmologist (a physician who specializes in medical and surgical care of the eyes, as well as in prevention of eye disease) immediately for a full examination, because cataract is only one of several important diseases that affect vision.