Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common causes of vision loss, especially as we age—but they don’t have to interfere with your life.

At Emory Healthcare, our specialists diagnose cataracts early and offer personalized treatment plans designed to protect and restore your sight. Whether you’re experiencing cloudy vision, glare, or trouble seeing at night, we combine advanced technology with compassionate care to help you see clearly again.

When your vision isn’t right, you want care quickly. Emory Eye Center offers multiple locations so you can see experts close to home. Our team handles more than 120,000 patient visits each year.

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of your eye. They’re very common and can affect one eye or both.

Cataracts happen when the protein in your lens builds up and your lens becomes hard. This makes your vision blurry and can make it harder to see things far away. You also may become more sensitive to light and glare.

Cataracts occur due to changes in your eyes as you get older. The protein on the lens of your eye can clump together over time. People over age 60 are more likely to get cataracts. Or you may be born with them – this is called congenital cataracts [link to:/services/eye-care/treatments/ophthalmic-genetics].

Other conditions that can increase your risk include:

To help reduce your risk of cataracts, you can:

The main sign of cataracts is blurry or hazy vision, which may get worse over time.

You may also have other symptoms. These include:

You should see an eye doctor if you notice changes in your vision. They will ask about your medical history and dilate your pupils to look at the back of your eyes during an exam.

Your doctor may do a slit lamp test to see the structures in your eyes.You may also have other tests to check your visual acuity, response to glare and the pressure of the fluid inside your eye.

If you have cataracts, your doctor will talk to you about your best treatment options. These can include new eyeglasses or contact lenses, or cataract surgery [link to: https://emoryhealthcare.org/services/eye-care/treatments/cataract-surgery].