“How long before cataracts make you blind?” My patients ask me this question a lot. Let me tell you – cataracts are part of aging. By the time people reach 80, all but one of these individuals either have cataracts or have undergone surgery to remove them. The World Health Organisation ranks cataracts as the number one cause of blindness worldwide.
Age-related cataracts take their time to develop. Most people need at least 10 years before these cataracts progress enough to cause blindness. Each person’s timeline differs by a lot. Most cases develop over decades, but traumatic cataracts can affect vision much faster – sometimes within months or a few years. Doctors can cure cataract blindness through safe, routine surgical procedures once the condition starts affecting daily life.
Let me walk you through how cataracts develop, their progression timeline, key warning signs, and the right time to think about treatment options that protect your vision.
How Cataracts Develop Over Time?
Cataracts begin their trip long before vision changes become noticeable. The development follows a pattern that we can predict, though certain factors can speed up the process.
At the time cataracts usually begin
Your eye’s lens starts aging earlier than most people realise. The proteins in your lens start to break down and clump together around age 40. These proteins form small cloudy areas. Most people won’t notice any symptoms during these early stages. Vision changes become apparent in their 60s or 70s, though the process started decades earlier.
The breakdown happens naturally to almost everyone as our eyes age. Nearly 1 in 5 people aged 65-74 have cataracts that affect their vision. More than 50% of people over age 80 either live with cataracts or have had surgery to remove them.
How long do cataracts take to develop?
Cataracts progress slowly. The original protein changes start around age 40, and cataracts develop gradually over many years—maybe even decades—before they substantially affect vision.
Each person’s timeline varies. Age-related cataracts progress through four distinct stages:
- Early stage: Minimal vision impact with only slight cloudiness
- Immature stage: More noticeable blurriness and difficulty in low light
- Mature stage: Significant vision impairment as the entire lens becomes cloudy
- Hypermature stage: Advanced condition where the lens hardens and may cause complications
What causes cataracts to form faster?
Several factors can speed up cataract development. People with diabetes face about twice the risk of developing cataracts compared to those without. Cataracts also progress faster in diabetic patients.
These factors speed up cataract formation:
- Smoking (with a dose-dependent relationship)
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Traumatic eye injuries (can cause cataracts within weeks or months)
- Prolonged UV exposure without protection
- Long-term steroid medication use
- Previous eye surgeries or inflammation
- Certain eye conditions like retinitis pigmentosa
Posterior subcapsular cataracts form at the back of the lens. They develop faster than other types and commonly affect younger people.
Stages of Cataract Progression and Symptoms
Cataracts move through different stages. Each stage shows specific symptoms that affect vision and daily life more and more. Knowing these stages helps you decide when to get medical help.
Early signs to watch for
The first symptoms of cataracts are subtle, and most people miss them. Your vision might get blurry or cloudy – like looking through a dirty window. You might become more sensitive to bright lights and glare, especially at night. Colours don’t look as bright as before, and blue shades fade the most.
You might need to change your glasses more often than usual. Reading or doing close-up work might require brighter light. These early signs usually don’t get in the way of daily life much, but they warn you something’s wrong.
Intermediate symptoms that affect daily life
The symptoms get worse as cataracts grow bigger and start affecting everyday tasks. Reading becomes hard, and you might struggle to watch TV or recognise faces. Driving at night gets dangerous because headlights and streetlights create too much glare.
Light sources start showing halos or glowing rings around them. You might see double in one eye during this stage. Simple tasks like cooking, cleaning, and taking care of your home take longer and become harder. Many people start needing help with things they used to do on their own.
Advanced signs of going blind from cataracts
Vision gets much worse without treatment when cataracts reach an advanced stage. Everything looks very cloudy – like trying to see through thick fog. Doctors can see that the lens has become very cloudy during an exam.
People at this stage have trouble seeing contrast and things on the sides of their vision. Basic tasks become almost impossible – reading labels, knowing who people are, or moving around safely. The chance of accidents, especially falls, goes up a lot.
Cataracts lead to legal blindness without treatment. The good news is that unlike other types of blindness, surgery can usually bring back vision lost to cataracts.
How Long does It Take to Go Blind from Cataracts?
Many patients worry about going blind from cataracts. A clear understanding of the timeline helps patients manage their expectations and make better decisions about their treatment.
Typical timeline for age-related cataracts
Age-related cataracts develop slowly over years—often decades—before they cause major vision problems. Most people with untreated cataracts won’t experience complete blindness for 10 years or more after their first development. Each person’s progression varies, based on their genes, health, and lifestyle choices.
Almost everyone has some form of cataracts by age 80. This doesn’t mean they’ll lose their vision right away. Age-related cataracts usually follow this pattern:
- People start developing them around ages of 45-50
- Vision problems become noticeable years later
- Without treatment, legal blindness develops over decades
Faster progression in traumatic or secondary cataracts
Traumatic cataracts behave differently from age-related ones and can develop faster after eye injury. These cataracts show up when trauma damages the lens fibers—either right after the injury or within weeks to months. About 65% of eye traumas lead to cataract formation .
Secondary cataracts (posterior capsule opacification) affect patients at these rates:
- 4% of people within one year after cataract surgery
- 18% within three years
- 31.2% within five years
Secondary cataracts typically develop around 64.7 days after surgery, much faster than age-related ones. Patients with diabetes or those who use steroid medications usually see their cataracts progress faster than standard cases.
Can cataract blindness be cured?
Surgery can completely reverse blindness from cataracts. This makes cataracts different from other causes of blindness. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and put in an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision.
Cataract surgery has impressive results—about 90% of patients see better afterward. The procedure takes only 15 minutes, and most people recover quickly. Surgeons can still treat advanced cataracts that cause severe vision loss, though these cases present more technical challenges.
Eye specialists recommend treatment when cataracts start affecting daily activities, rather than waiting until vision loss becomes severe.
When to Consider Cataract Surgery?
The decision about when to have cataract surgery depends on several key factors. My surgical experience helps me balance clinical findings with each patient’s lifestyle needs before suggesting this common procedure.
How do doctors decide the right time for surgery?
The choice to move forward with cataract surgery comes from an in-depth conversation between patient and the doctor. We look at how cataracts affect your vision and quality of life, whether you have them in one or both eyes, and your priorities regarding surgery. In stark comparison to this, visual acuity alone should never limit someone’s access to cataract surgery.
My recommendation for surgery usually comes when cataracts start to interfere with daily life. To name just one example, see how someone who drives often or needs sharp vision for work might benefit from earlier surgery. Note that cataract surgery stands as the only way to remove cataracts for good.
Can you drive with cataracts?
Of course, many patients with cataracts can drive safely if they meet visual requirements. UK law states you must read a number plate from 20 meters away and have normal vision field in at least one eye.
Notwithstanding that, cataracts make driving more dangerous, particularly at night. Oncoming headlights create intense glare on wet roads, and your pupils adjust slower to sudden light changes. In fact, people with cataracts are four times more likely to report difficulties with challenging driving situations.
The law requires you to tell the DVLA if cataracts affect both eyes, regardless of your visual acuity. You could face fines up to £1,000 or prosecution if you have an accident without reporting.
What happens if cataracts are left untreated?
Putting off cataract surgery brings several risks. The largest longitudinal study from Canada showed that patients waiting more than six months experienced vision loss, reduced quality of life, and fell more often than those who waited less than six weeks.
Untreated cataracts eventually cause:
- Complete vision loss and blindness
- More complicated surgery once the cataract becomes hypermature
- Higher risk of accidents and falls
- Social isolation and loss of independence
The bottom line? While there’s no need to rush into surgery right after diagnosis, waiting too long offers no benefits and might permanently damage your vision.
Conclusion
Patients can make better decisions about their eye health by knowing how cataracts progress. Most age-related cataracts develop slowly over decades. Some factors like diabetes, trauma, or medication use can speed up this process by a lot. The time from first symptoms to potential blindness usually takes at least 10 years, though each person’s case differs.
The best news is that blindness from cataracts can be reversed through surgery, unlike many other vision problems. This safe and common procedure takes just minutes to complete. About 90% of patients see better after the surgery.
Better outcomes and fewer complications come with early treatment. Surgery should start when cataracts affect your daily life instead of waiting until your vision gets much worse. Don’t let cataracts take away your sight – catching them early makes a big difference. Precision Vision London’s expert team provides advanced eye screenings and personalised treatment plans to protect your vision. Book your cataract consultation today for clearer, healthier vision with us.
Your choice to get cataract surgery depends on how symptoms affect your daily life. Waiting too long offers no benefits and could hurt your long-term vision. Regular eye exams help catch cataracts early. You and your eye doctor can track changes and pick the right time for treatment. Cataracts may be the leading cause of blindness worldwide, but effective treatment exists. Millions of people get their clear vision back each year and enjoy a better quality of life.
FAQs
Q1. How long does it typically take for cataracts to cause blindness?
Cataracts usually progress slowly, taking at least 10 years to cause blindness if left untreated. However, this timeline can vary significantly between individuals, with some cases progressing more rapidly than others.
Q2. At what age do cataracts usually start to develop?
Cataracts begin to form around age 40 when proteins in the eye’s lens start breaking down. However, most people don’t notice vision changes until their 60s or 70s, even though the process started decades earlier.
Q3. Can you still drive with cataracts?
Many people with cataracts can continue driving safely if they meet visual standards. However, cataracts can make driving increasingly hazardous, especially at night due to increased glare and slower pupil adjustment to light changes.
Q4. What happens if cataracts are left untreated?
Untreated cataracts can lead to complete vision loss, increased difficulty in cataract removal surgery, higher risk of accidents and falls, and potential loss of independence. It’s important to address cataracts when they start affecting daily activities.
Q5. How soon after cataract surgery can you expect to see improvements?
Many patients notice clearer vision within 24 to 48 hours after surgery, with significant improvement often occurring within the first week. However, it can take several weeks for vision to fully stabilise and reach optimal clarity.
References
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataracts/
- https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cataracts/background-information/causes-risk-factors/
- https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/eyes-and-vision/cataract/risk-factors.html
- https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594251/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3130924/
- https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng77/resources/cataracts-in-adults-management-pdf-1837639266757
- https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts/cataract-surgery
- https://www.gov.uk/eye-conditions-and-driving
