Skip to Content

Symptoms of a Cataract

By Tina D. Turner, M.D.

Symptoms of cataracts can include any or all of the following:

man wearing one brown and one blue sock
Reduced color perception can
make it difficult to tell the
brown and blue sock apart.
  • Problems telling certain colors apart, such as navy blue, brown, and black, or blue, green, and purple (example at left).
  • Problems with depth perception, such as judging the height of a step or curb, or the depth of a bathtub
  • Blurred, hazy, or “milky” vision, as if looking through a dirty or cloudy piece of glass, or through glasses that always seem to need cleaning
  • Difficulty reading regular print and/or street signs
  • Needing a brighter, more focused light for reading and other close-up tasks, such as sewing and crafting
  • Problems with glare, especially bright sunlight and room lights
  • Sensitivity to oncoming headlights while driving at night
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Seeing “halos” around lights, especially at night
  • Frequent changes in prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • Development—or worsening—of nearsightedness
  • Double vision (diplopia), or seeing a “ghost” image when using the affected eye. Double vision can also be a sign of a serious neurological condition and always needs to be evaluated by a doctor.