Currently, the only treatment for cataracts is surgery. However, a doctor may recommend delaying surgery unless symptoms are interfering with your daily life, such as by preventing you from driving.

A cataract occurs when the natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy, causing blurry vision. It can result from damage to the lens protein or the surface tissue in your eyes.

While there are several causes, aging and damage from the sun’s UV radiation are among the most common.

The only treatment that has been proven to get rid of cataracts is surgery. There is currently no other way to restore vision.

Learn more about when a doctor may recommend surgery for cataracts and how you can help prevent them from occurring or worsening.

There is currently no effective way to treat cataracts without surgery. However, you may not need to have surgery immediately.

A healthcare professional might recommend delaying surgery unless your symptoms are interfering with your daily activities, such as going to work and driving.

Instead, they may suggest ways to manage your symptoms while the condition is in its early stages, including:

  • getting a new prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • having annual eye exams to monitor the progression of the condition
  • using brighter lights to see better
  • wearing anti-glare sunglasses

A healthcare professional can help you understand whether cataract surgery is right for you.

Leaving cataracts untreated can lead to vision loss. While you may not notice any changes to your vision at first, the damaged proteins in your eyes can eventually grow until the entire lens becomes cloudy.

According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide. About 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairment, but in almost half of those cases, it could have been prevented or has not yet been treated.

A surgeon will use a local anesthetic to numb the area. They will then remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial plastic one. While you will be awake for the procedure, you will not feel any pain.

It is common to experience blurred vision after surgery, which is why it’s recommended that you have someone ready to drive you home afterward.

You should start to notice improvements in your symptoms over several weeks.

Currently, there is no proven way to prevent or slow the growth of cataracts. However, you can reduce your risk of cataracts by taking care of your eye health.

Here are several ways you can lower your risk of developing cataracts:

  • Protect your eyes from sun damage: Wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats can be a great way to reduce sun exposure and prevent damage from UV rays.
  • Protect your eyes from injury: A traumatic cataract can result from an injury, such as blunt trauma or an object that enters your eye. To avoid this, it’s important to wear eye protection when doing activities that increase the risk of foreign objects coming into contact with your eyes, such as using power tools.
  • Avoid or limit alcohol: Limiting or avoiding alcohol can benefit your eye health because alcohol consumption can significantly increase your risk of cataracts.
  • Eat a balanced diet: A balanced diet that is rich in nutrients can help promote good eye health. Consider increasing your intake of foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, and citrus fruits.
  • Quit smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of cataracts. If you smoke and are considering quitting, you can read our guide to effective methods for quitting or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free support.

If you have cataracts, the above methods can also help prevent further damage.

You can stop cataracts from getting worse by taking steps such as protecting your eyes from the sun, eating a nutritious diet, and avoiding alcohol and smoking.

A healthcare professional may recommend delaying surgery if your symptoms are not interfering with your day-to-day life.

Currently, the only treatment for cataracts is surgery. But a doctor may recommend delaying surgery unless your symptoms are causing problems in your daily life, such as preventing you from driving.

Instead, they may suggest ways to manage your symptoms while the condition is in its early stages, such as using brighter lights.