For many people, worsening vision is first associated with a simple solution—new glasses. If the image becomes blurry and fine details are harder to see, it seems enough to get new glasses with different diopters, and the problem will be solved. However, eye care specialists warn that this does not work in all cases.
According to ophthalmologist Irmantė Glinskienė from the Lirema Eye Clinic, cataracts are among the most common causes of vision impairment worldwide, especially in older age.
“They develop gradually and often go unnoticed. The first symptoms are frequently attributed to fatigue, ageing, or incorrect glasses. As a result, people delay visiting a specialist and try to solve the problem on their own with glasses for a long time, yet their vision remains poor,” the doctor explains.
What is actually happening in the eye?
In cataracts, the natural lens of the eye gradually loses both elasticity and transparency, becoming cloudy. As a result, light can no longer pass through to the retina as easily, and vision progressively deteriorates. The clouding of the lens can occur not only with age but also due to other factors, such as injuries, diseases, or the effects of medications.
“Patients often say they feel like they are seeing through fog, smoke, or dirty glass. That’s a very accurate comparison,” says Dr Glinskienė.
According to the specialist, cataracts progress slowly, so early symptoms—such as increased sensitivity to light, glare, duller or more yellowish colors—may seem insignificant.
“Very often, people think their vision is simply weakening due to age and that it’s nothing serious, so they keep postponing a visit to the doctor,” she notes.
Why don’t glasses help?
Glasses are designed to correct how light is refracted—they help when the eye does not focus images correctly, such as in nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness. Cataracts, however, are not a focusing issue.
“The problem is not how light is refracted, but that it doesn’t pass through the lens as it should. That’s why even with new glasses, vision does not improve,” emphasizes Dr. Glinskienė.
This is like taking a photo through a dirty lens—even if the focus is perfectly adjusted, the image will still be blurry.
With cataracts, the lens clouding is uneven—it can occur in different areas and vary in intensity.
“One day vision may seem better, the next worse. It can also change significantly depending on lighting conditions, and a person may see double images or shadows—glasses cannot compensate for such instability,” the doctor explains.
Are there alternatives to surgery?
Neither eye drops, vitamins, nor special glasses can restore the lens’s transparency, despite what online advertisements may claim.
“It is important to understand that cataracts cannot be cured with eye drops or medications. The only effective treatment is cataract surgery,” says Dr Glinskienė.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures worldwide. During the operation, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a soft, transparent, artificial intraocular lens.
“With modern technology, cataract surgery is a very simple procedure that takes only 10–20 minutes under local anaesthesia. The patient can go home to rest immediately after the procedure. Most patients notice a clear improvement in vision as early as the next day, while final results can be evaluated after a few weeks,” concludes Dr Glinskienė.
If your vision feels cloudy, contact Lirema Eye Clinic — this procedure can restore your sharp sight in 20 minutes.