7 Simple Self Tests for Cataracts: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Cataract is the most common eye condition which is faced by nearly each individual with increasing age. In common terms, cataracts can be described as the clouding of the natural lens which leads to blurring of vision and affects the daily life of individuals. There can be many causes of cataracts like ageing, injury to the eye, weakness or it can also be congenital. For accurate diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, one should visit their Ophthalmologist (eye surgeon). But, there can be some simple self-tests for cataracts which can be performed at home if you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts.

Can You Self Test for Cataracts at Home?

Yes, Cataracts can be diagnosed at home with simple self tests for cataracts if your are experiencing symptoms of cataracts. But these self tests for cataracts are not substitute for eye examination done by an Ophthalmologist

Below is the list of self tests for cataracts you can perform at home to diagnose cataracts

1. Visual Acuity Test

Visual Acuity Test checks for a change in your vision. During tests if you experience your vision is cloudy or blurry and affecting your ability to read or drive, it could be a potential symptom of cataracts.

Visual Acuity Self Tests For Cataracts Procedure :-
a. Get into a room which has good lighting and minimal glare
b. If you use corrective lenses, wear them.
c. Sit back or stand relax at a distance of 20 meters or 6 feet from the eye chart.
d. Now, cover your one eye with your hand.
e. Start with reading the smallest letter line first which you can read clearly without any straining.
f. Repeat the same procedure with the other eye.

Interpretation: If you are struggling to read the smaller lines or have blurred vision or cloudiness in your vision, especially from a distance, it could be a potential sign of cataracts.

2. Glare Sensitivity Test

Glare sensitivity test your glare sensitivity or halos around lights. Notice how your eyes react to bright lights or low-light conditions.

Glare Sensitivity Self Tests For Cataracts Procedure:-

a. Notice how your eyes react when you are exposed to sudden bright lights or low-light conditions especially while driving.
b. Pay attention to any discomfort caused by the street lights or vehicle headlights when driving.
c. Observe if you experience any increased sensitivity to glares or halos around light.

Interpretation: If you experience bright lights causing discomfort, glare or halos. It could be a symptom of a cataract affecting the clarity of vision especially in challenging light conditions.

3. Color Vision Test

Color vision test helps in determining your ability to perceive colours. People suffering from cataracts find difficulty in a clear vision of colour, Most of the colour appear to be faded or yellowed. Color vision self-test for cataracts helps you to find if you can see the colors as they once did. If you face issues, then it could be the symptoms of cataracts.

Color Vision Self Tests for Cataracts Procedure:-

a. Hang the color chart, or use any screen which has different colors.
b. Now look at different colors or a variety of colorful objects in different lightning conditions.
c. Notice if you can perceive color accurately. Check if color seems to be faded, less vibrant, or yellowed.

Interpretation:- If you are experiencing difficulty in your ability to perceive colors accurately and notice, colors are dull or washed out, then it could be a sign of cataracts affecting the transparency of your eyes lens.

4. Contrast Sensitivity Test

This test helps in determining your ability to distinguish objects from the background, especially in low-light conditions. Cataracts reduce contrast sensitivity which results in difficulty to see clearly.

Contrast Sensitivity Self-Tests for Cataracts Procedure:-

a. Try to compare the clarity of different objects under different lighting conditions.
b. Notice if you face difficulty distinguishing objects from the surroundings or similar background, especially in low-contrast situations.
c. Notice how well you can perceive the difference between shades and textures.

Interpretation:- If you notice, you are facing a challenge in distinguishing objects from their background or find difficulty in low-contrast or dim light. It could be a symptom of cataracts.

5. Self-Examination of Eyes

Self-examination of eyes is another self test for cataracts which will help you to find any indication of cataracts.

Procedure:-

a. Stand closely in front of a clean and well-lit mirror.
b. Now, examine your eyes closely, focusing on pupil and iris.
c. Check if you notice any cloudiness, haziness, or discolouration in the lens of the eyes.

Interpretation:- During the self-test for cataracts if you notice any abnormalities such as cloudiness, or discoloured areas. It can be the presence of cataracts that is affecting the clarity of your eye lens.

Testing for Cataracts: How an Optometrist Tests for Cataracts?

While these self tests for cataracts can provide insight into cataracts for actual diagnosis one should seek a professional eye examination. Next, we will discuss How an Optometrist Tests for Cataracts.

Optometrists use a variety of procedures to effectively diagnose cataracts. Below are some key methods:-

1. Slit lamp examination for Cataracts

The slit lamp examination procedure includes a slit lamp, a microscope with bright light to examine the front of the eye and lens where the cataract form. This examination procedure helps to detect any cloudiness or opacity in the lens.

Preparation:-

a. The Ophthalmologist will ask the patient to sit comfortably in front of the slit lamp.
b. Next, the Ophthalmologist will adjust the microscope height and angle to align with the patient’s eye.

Eye Examination for Cataract Process:-

a. The Ophthalmologist will first examine the external structure of the eye including eyelids, lashes, and conjunctiva, using a slit lamp.
b. To stabilize the patient’s head, they are asked to place their chin on chin rest.
c. Ophthalmologist uses joystick or other controls to move slit lamp closer to the patient’s eye and adjust the focus to examine different parts of the eye in detail.
d. Examining the lens for cataracts requires focus on the anterior segment of the eyes. The beam is directed towards the pupil to visualize the lens’s clarity, transparency, and opacities.

Assessment:-

Patient’s findings are recorded in the medical record and based on eye examination results further treatment options are discussed.

2. Dilated Eye Exam test for Cataracts

A dilated eye exam for cataracts is done to get a better view of the internal structures of the patient eye, including retina, optic nerves and blood vessels.

Ophthalmologists will instil special eye drops containing dilating agents in each eye of a patient, which as a result cause the pupil to widen or dilate.

Preparation:-

a. Your eye care professional (Ophthalmologist) will ask about your medical history such as any recent surgery, any undergoing treatment and current eye symptoms you are experiencing. He may ask you to undergo a preliminary vision test.
b. Administration of Eye Drops: – Next, eye drops containing dilating agents are instilled into each eye and the patient has to wait at least 30 minutes for the pupils to dilate fully.

Eye Examination:-

Once the pupils are dilated, the Ophthalmologist will examine the internal structures of the eye using a special magnifying lens and bright light. Additional tools such as an ophthalmoscope or a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope may be required to get a comprehensive view.

Assessment:-

To identify any signs of abnormalities such as retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or other eye conditions your eye care provider will carefully examine the retina, optic nerve, blood vessels and macula.

Once the examination is over, your Ophthalmologist will discuss their findings with you and will provide recommendations for further evaluation or treatment if necessary.

How to Identify Cataracts Signs & Symptoms?

Cataracts have various symptoms, and they get worse over time if not treated. Below is the list of signs and symptoms of cataracts.

10 Signs & Symptoms of Cataracts

1. Blurred Vision:- One of the most common symptoms of cataracts is blurry or cloudy vision. A person suffering from cataracts will always feel like he is looking through a foggy window.

2. Sensitivity to Light: A person will feel increased sensitivity to glare from lights, especially while driving at night or in bright sunlight.

3. Difficulty Seeing at Night: A person will have poor vision during low light conditions and will make it challenging to see in dim lights.

4. Colors Appear Faded:- People suffering from cataracts will notice yellowing or browning of colors. Colors will appear to them faded or less vibrant.

5. Double Vision:- One of the major symptoms of cataracts is double vision, which can interfere with reading, writing or other daily activities.

6. Frequent Changes in Eyeglass Prescription:– If your vision is not improving even after frequent adjustments to your eyeglass prescription, then it could be a sign of cataracts.

7. Glare or Halo Effect Around Lights:- If you are experiencing a halo effect or glare around when looking at lights such as car headlights or street headlights, it could be a sign of cataracts.

8. Decreased Contrast Sensitivity:- Cataracts reduce the person’s ability for contrast sensitivity. A person affected will find it harder to distinguish objects from the background in low-light conditions.

9. Double Vision:- Double vision usually occurs in a single eye rather than both eyes if a person is affected by cataracts. It interferes with daily activities like reading, driving, or writing.

10. Difficulty with Reading or Performing Daily Tasks: If you are experiencing difficulty in performing your daily tasks such as reading, driving, watching TV, or other tasks that require clear vision then it could be a sign of cataracts and you should do the self-tests for cataracts.

Cataract Treatment: How To Treat It

Treating Cataracts completely involves surgical intervention, here is a more detailed view:

a. Monitoring of Eyes

In the initial stage of cataracts, your Ophthalmologist will conduct regular eye examinations to assess the severity of cataracts and their impact on vision. These tests include visual acuity tests, slit lamp examinations, and glare tests.

b. Prescription Glasses

In the early stage of cataracts, vision improvement is done by updating your prescription glasses. Your eye doctor will prescribe glasses with a different lens power to clear your vision, enhancing power and contrast which is damaged by cataracts.

c. Surgery

When the symptoms of cataracts become worse and start impacting daily life such as reading, driving, writing, watching television, and working on computers(laptops) then surgery becomes the primary treatment option.

Cataract surgery is a very common procedure nowadays and highly effective which is completed in less than an hour. During the surgery process, the Ophthalmologist will remove the cloudy natural lens from the eyes and replace it with an artificial lens called intraocular lens (IOL).

Types of Cataract Surgery

There are three types of cataract surgery performed by an Ophthalmologist namely Phacoemulsification, Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE), and Intraocular Lens (IOL). Let’s deep dive in each one of them.

1. Phacoemulsification

This is the most common technique used by ophthalmologists to perform cataract surgery. The process involves breaking up the cloudy lens into small pieces using ultrasound energy. The broken lens is suctioned out through a tiny incision.

2. Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE)

In this surgical process, the Ophthalmologist removes the cloud lens in a single piece through a larger incision. The ECCE method is much less performed nowadays as compared to phacoemulsification.

3. Intraocular Lens (IOL)

There are several types of IOLs available, including monofocal, multifocal, and toric lenses. Ophthalmologist chooses the most suitable IOL based on visual needs and lifestyle requirements.

d. Postoperative Care

Once the cataract surgery is completed, your surgeon will share the instructions which need to be followed for taking care of your eyes during the recovery phase. It will include prescription eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation, and medicines for reducing swelling if any. You need to wear black glasses to protect your eyes from direct light and dust. In a few days, only most of the patients experience improved vision after surgery. The latter process involves a follow-up appointment with your doctor to monitor the healing and recovery process and take care of any concerns.

Preventing Cataracts:5 Simple Tips for Preventing Cataracts

As we know, cataracts are common age-related problems characterized by clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which eventually leads to blurred vision and permanent vision loss if left untreated. Following simple preventive measures can help you to reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

Certainly! Here are five simple tips for preventing cataracts:-

1. Protect Your Eyes from UV Radiation

Prolonged exposure of eyes to UV radiation can lead to the development of cataracts. When moving outside, wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays even during cloudy days. Additionally, you can wear wide hats or caps which can provide additional protection by cutting off direct sunlight that reaches eyes.

2. Quit Smoking

As we know smoking is injurious to health, smoking not only harms overall health but also increases the risk of developing cataracts. Tobacco contains chemicals that accelerate the lens’s ageing process and lead to the formation of cataracts. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

3. Eat Healthy & Balanced Diet

Eating a healthy and nutritious diet helps maintain good eye and overall health, reducing the risk of developing cataracts. One should intake foods rich in antioxidants, like Vitamin C & Vitamin E. Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet such as carrots, oranges, berries, and spinach. These foods provide essential nutrients for eye health and also contribute to overall health.

However, it is important to note that a few foods need to be avoided after cataract surgery such as spicy foods, and foods high in sodium, alcohol, and caffeine. Check out our list of Top 10 Foods not to eat after cataract surgery.

4. Managing Chronic Conditions

Chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease increase the risk of developing cataracts. High blood sugar levels when associated with diabetes can cause changes in the eye lens which can lead to cataracts at an early age. You should follow a proper diet, regular exercise, and regular checkups to manage chronic conditions.

5. Get Regular Eye Checkup

Routine eye examination is very helpful in detecting early signs of cataracts and other eye disease. You can also do self tests for cataracts to identify early symptoms. However, self tests for cataracts can’t be replaced by a professional eye checkup. Schedule your eye checkups regularly with you Ophthalmologist, especially if you are old age or experiencing any difficulty in vision.

Conclusion

Self tests for cataracts can be performed at home to identify the symptoms of cataracts. However, if you are experiencing any issues in your eyes, you should immediately seek medical attention to get your eye checkup. Self tests for cataracts are great but they can’t substitute for a professional eye examination.

Reviewed By

Dr. Sonam Aggarwal
MBBS, MD(Community Medicine)