How long do cataracts take to develop?
Cataracts don’t appear overnight. They develop slowly over time—and the speed varies from person to person.
So, how long do cataracts take to form? And how do you know when it’s time to act?
What is a cataract?
A cataract is when the natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy and changes focus. This happens as proteins in the lens clump together. It’s a normal part of ageing, but some people notice changes earlier than others.
How fast do cataracts grow?
Most cataracts develop gradually over years. The first sign is that the lens loses its ability to see for near and that you need reading glasses. You might not notice any symptoms at first. Then, slowly later on, things can begin to blur. Colours seem duller. Night driving becomes harder. You find yourself needing more light to read.
For some, this change is so slow they adapt without realising. Others notice a quicker shift—especially if cataracts are linked to:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Steroid use
- Eye injury or previous surgery
Can cataracts suddenly get worse?
In rare cases, yes. Some people experience a rapid decline in vision over weeks or months. This is more common in certain types of cataract, like posterior subcapsular cataracts, which affect reading and bright-light vision early on.
Do cataracts need to be “ripe” before surgery?
No. That’s an old myth. Today, cataract surgery is based on how much the cataract is affecting your life—not how advanced it looks on scan. You don’t need to wait until your vision is severely impaired. The latest advice is to get cataracts removed as early as possible.
Professor Paul Ursell uses advanced scanning and visual assessments to determine if surgery is right for you, based on your needs.
Can cataracts come back?
Once the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, the cataract itself cannot return. However, some people develop posterior capsule opacification (PCO)—a harmless, cloudy film that can appear months or years later. It’s easily treated with a quick laser procedure.
Wondering if your cataracts are getting worse?
Take our suitability self-test to learn more and see if it’s time for treatment.
Are you suitable for vision correction surgery?
It isn’t suitable for everyone.
The first step is to book an assessment so you can find out whether you can benefit.
Our most popular procedures
What our patients say…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Excellent result. Complete confidence in Paul Ursell. Quiet, quick, and efficient. Peaceful and comfortable hospital.”
P.T★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The cataract surgery on both of my eyes went very smoothly without any problems. There was no pain afterwards and I didn’t have to wear any eyepatch. I would highly recommend Professor Ursell for cataract surgery.”
M.S★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Highly professional, extremely efficient, and an excellent communicator, Paul exudes experience, knowledge, and ability. The whole process — initial consultation, operation, and post-op check-up — was wonderfully stress-free. I now have 20/20 vision, am glasses-free, and I am delighted by the results.”
S.B★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The cataract surgery has completely changed my life. Mr. Ursell put me at ease and explained all options. The procedure was quick and painless and completely successful, and I now have 20/20 vision in my good eye. One of the reasons I had the surgery was because of Mr. Ursell’s standing and experience. Cannot praise highly enough.”
D.S★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“I was very short-sighted and my cataracts badly affected both reading and distance acuity. After the operation I now have very good distance vision (glasses-free) but still need glasses for reading. (This was the expected outcome as I did not want multi-focus implants). The operation was quick and painless, and I had no post-operative discomfort at all (which surprised me). The results are remarkable.
I can certainly recommend Professor Ursell. He is a personable consultant and a skilled surgeon.”
S.D★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Dr. Paul Ursell squashed many of my concerns for not having cataract surgery. He offered comfort with examples of his long/distinguished career and new technology that he applies to the surgery.
Both before and after the surgery, Dr. Ursell and staff gave me the information and attention I needed. It was a great success, and I highly recommend Dr. Ursell.”
PTOWe have replaced the images of real patients who provided these testimonials to protect their privacy.
