Fiducia TogetherCataracts
The lens of the eye clouding. The commonest cause of reversible sight loss, and surgery takes about twenty minutes.
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.
What it is
Cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. It is extremely common with age: by 75, most people have some degree of it.
It matters here because it is the great reversible one. Cataract surgery is among the most performed and most successful operations in the NHS, usually done under local anaesthetic as a day case, and the sight it restores is real.
Which makes untreated cataract in a care setting a particular failure. People are described as confused, withdrawn, or unable to join in, when the actual problem is that they cannot see.
Signs you might notice
Vision becoming cloudy, misty or blurred, gradually.
Glare and haloes around lights, and difficulty driving at night.
Colours looking faded or yellowed.
Needing brighter light to read.
A change in glasses prescription that keeps happening.
How it can affect day-to-day life
Untreated cataract causes falls, social withdrawal, and difficulty with everything from medication labels to recognising faces.
In people with dementia or a learning disability, the consequences compound: poor vision worsens disorientation and increases distress, and the resulting behaviour gets attributed to the cognitive condition.
The barrier is usually that nobody has arranged an eye test, not that surgery was refused.
Supporting someone well
Arrange the eye test. In a care home, this can be done on site: domiciliary optometry exists and is free for those eligible.
Do not assume somebody with dementia cannot have cataract surgery. It is frequently done successfully, and the improvement in orientation and mood can be substantial.
Maximise light and contrast while waiting.
After surgery, use the drops exactly as prescribed and avoid rubbing the eye.
Get glasses reassessed a few weeks after surgery, because the prescription usually changes considerably.
Where to get help
Any optometrist can assess and refer. NHS eye tests are free for over-60s.
Ask for referral when the cataract affects daily life, rather than waiting for a particular level of vision loss.
Sudden pain, redness or vision loss after surgery needs urgent assessment.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.