Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Cataracts on June 1, 2026
Many people assume worsening vision is just part of getting older. But if your eyesight has been gradually clouding, your vision has a dull or yellow tint, or lights seem unusually harsh, cataracts could be the cause.
June is Cataract Awareness Month, and according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. The good news is that with early detection and treatment, cataracts are highly manageable. Here are four key things to know about cataracts as you age.
1. Cataracts Are a Natural Part of Aging
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, the clear structure that helps focus light so you can see. As you get older, the proteins in your lens naturally begin to break down and clump together.
That buildup is what causes cloudy vision. Most cataracts develop gradually over years, which is why many people don’t realize something is wrong until their vision has already changed significantly.
Age-related cataracts are by far the most common type. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have cataracts or have already had surgery to remove them.
2. Your Risk May Be Higher Than You Think
Age is the biggest risk factor for cataracts, but it isn’t the only one. Several other factors can increase your likelihood of developing them earlier or more severely, including:
- Diabetes
- Smoking or heavy alcohol use
- A family history of cataracts
- Long-term steroid use
- Previous eye injury or eye surgery
- Extended exposure to UV rays without proper eye protection
If any of these apply to you, talking to your eye doctor about your cataract risk is a smart step, even if you haven’t noticed any vision changes yet.
3. The Symptoms Can Be Easy to Overlook
Cataracts often develop so slowly that the early signs are easy to dismiss. You might notice that your vision seems slightly blurry or hazy, that colors look a bit faded, or that you need more light to read comfortably than you used to. Glare from headlights or sunlight may become more bothersome, and you might see halos around lights at night.
Some people also find themselves updating their glasses or contact lens prescription more frequently. These changes don’t always point to cataracts, but they are worth discussing with an eye doctor. Early detection matters because the longer cataracts go untreated, the more difficulties they can cause in your daily life.
4. What You Can Do About Cataracts as You Age
The only way to treat a cataract is through surgery, but you don’t necessarily need to rush into it. In the early stages, brighter lighting and updated glasses may be enough to manage your symptoms. Your eye doctor will help you decide when surgery makes sense based on how much your cataracts are affecting your daily life.
When the time comes, cataract surgery at EyeHealth Northwest is a safe, outpatient procedure with a success rate exceeding 95%. During the procedure, the clouded lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
EyeHealth Northwest offers a range of IOL options, including toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses for clearer vision at multiple distances, and the Light Adjustable Lens, the only IOL that can be fine-tuned after implantation and healing.
See Clearly at Every Age
Cataracts are common, but they don’t have to take over your vision. Staying aware of symptoms and getting regular eye exams are the most effective ways to catch them early. To learn more about your cataract surgery options, schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today.
