Sudden cataracts?

[sarahh96]

Can cataracts come on suddenly, as in within 5 weeks?
I've got blurred vision at the moment so went to the optician who couldn't find any reason for it other than the start of cataracts.
I only had a routine eye test 5 weeks ago and there was no mention of them then.
I have recently had conjunctivitis but apparently that wouldn't cause sudden blurred vision.
Has anyone else had this?

Could it be a detached retina? Google the symptoms and if it remotely matches you should seek urgent medical attention as time is of the essence when it comes to a detached retina.

What did your eye test check for?

This is the list from SpecSavers:

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-test

I am sure an eye test will check for a detached retina, glaucoma or cataracts. Ask your optometrist to confirm.

I had a full eye test yesterday which showed that everything was normal, apart from this sudden appearance of cataracts.
I was really hoping the blurred vision was just down to the conjunctivitis so I was a bit shocked. It just seems so quick!

They can come on very quickly. I went from clear vision to very cloudy in a few months, I had posterior subcapsular cataracts. My right eye went from undetectable cataract in a normal eyetest, to me noticing quite blurred vision in 2 months. I had surgery and it was very straightforward.

That's interesting OP - I had conjunctivitis about a month ago and have since had really blurry vision in my right eye. I presumed it was linked but it hasn't gone so have booked an opticians appt at the weekend. Surprised to hear that they've said it isn't the conjunctivitis - mine has definitely been present since then and not before so seems linked.

High blood glucose can affect your vision

@Worriedmum40284 oh really? How interesting. Could you keep me posted on your update. It does seem very suspicious that both of us have the same issue. I trust the optician completely but it seems a very strange coincidence that 5 wks ago my vision was fine and all of a sudden (literally) it's not.

No problem @sarahh96 - will let you know what they say tomorrow

I'm a glasses wearer so my vision was absolutely fine with those, but hasn't been ever since the conjunctivitis so seems a strange coincidence as you say.

Hi @Sarahh96 - I had my eye check today and they were happy with the health of my eyes. They couldn't see anything obvious causing it, apart from my eyes being really dry so I've been given drops to try and they want to see me again in 2 months as he agreed my vision wasn't good in the one eye, but that it wasn't prescription related. Will be interesting to see if the drops do the trick.

@Worriedmum40284 hi, thanks so much for the update. I was given dry eye drops too. Having now used them twice my eyesight does seem to have improved, very slightly. I'm pretty sure it must be the conjunctivitis, no matter what they say.
We will have to keep each other posted on our peepers 👀
Thanks again x

It does seem like too much of a coincidence doesn't it? Glad the drops are helping a little - hopefully they do the trick and it doesn't end up being anything more for you. Yes I'll let you know how the drops go for me too over the next few weeks x

I recently had conjunctivitis and also went for an eyetest. The optometrist also said I had 'very dry' eyes (she made it sound sub-saharan) and prescribed eye drops and warm compresses.

She said dry eyes can cause blurriness. I thought it was just my eyes feeling tired but I know my vision gets blurry and then I blink hard, it gets clear again. That is a sign of dry eyes. She did not say I had cataracts.

I had a similar experience. I was told roughly around 2018/9 I had the start of cataracts but not to worry it shouldn't be an issue for 10 years or so. Not only did I not worry, I completely forgot about the diagnosis until 2021, when I noticed my eyesight drastically worsening. As I'm in my 50s I just thought my contact lens prescription needed changing and went back to Specsavers for a check up, to be reminded of the diagnosis and told they had considerably worsened. It was so bad, I was signed off as I couldn't use the computers properly and as well as my poor eyesight I was getting back and neck pain from poor posture. I contacted occupational health and they were limited as to what they could do as the best outcome was surgery.

I had the 1st one done quite quickly, in about 3 months which was great as at the time we were coming out of lockdown and all the backlog that involved. I suspect my GP may have advocated on my behalf as a) I was relatively young (mid 50s) and b) I was signed off sick and I'm an NHS nurse.

The 2nd one wasn't done for about 9 months, as in between I also had my gallbladder out and then broke my shoulder (2011 wasn't my finest year😏) but just having one done was enough to get back to work. The results were fantastic. Prior to this I'd been severely short sighted in one eye, and as I got older longsighted as well. Having the op on the NHS means you are left either long sighted or shortsighted, you choose. Privately you can end up with 20/20 vision, but wearing glasses for reading doesn't bother me so I oped for long sighted so still wear reading glasses but my distance vision is the best it's been since I was a child and I'm delighted with the results.

BTW ime it didn't worsen in weeks. I was diagnosed about 2-3 years previously but it was the final few months it worsened rapidly, but much quicker than expected.