Can cataracts affect colour vision?

Cataracts are best known for causing blurry vision and glare, but many people don’t realise they can also affect how you see colours.

If you’ve noticed that your world looks less vibrant or that colours seem faded, cataracts could be the cause. In this blog, we’ll explain how cataracts affect colour vision, what to expect as they progress, and how surgery can restore brightness and clarity.

How do cataracts develop?

Cataracts occur when the natural lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. Normally, this lens is clear, allowing light to pass through easily to the retina. As proteins in the lens break down and clump together, the lens scatters light, making your vision hazy.

How cataracts affect colours

One of the lesser-known symptoms of cataracts is a gradual change in how you perceive colours. The clouding of the lens doesn’t just blur vision, it can actually change the way colours look.

1. Faded colours

Reds, blues, and greens may look less vibrant.

2. Yellowing or browning

The lens can develop a yellowish or brownish tint, making everything appear dimmer or discoloured. Whites may look yellow, and blues may be harder to distinguish.

3. Difficulty with contrast

Subtle differences between shades may become harder to notice, which can affect reading, driving, or recognising faces.

How does this affect daily life?

Changes in colour vision can impact everyday activities more than you might think:

• Reading signs, labels, or menus becomes harder.
• Watching TV or using digital screens may feel dull.
• Driving can be unsafe if you struggle to see traffic lights clearly.
• Hobbies like painting, gardening, or sewing may be less enjoyable.

Why does this happen?

As cataracts develop, they filter the light entering your eye. The natural lens becomes tinted, similar to wearing yellow or brown sunglasses all the time. This filter blocks certain colours and changes how your brain interprets them.

Can glasses fix colour changes?

Unfortunately, glasses or contact lenses cannot correct colour distortion caused by cataracts. While they may improve sharpness in early stages, they don’t change the way light is filtered through the cloudy lens.

The only solution: Surgery

The good news is that cataract surgery can restore vibrant, natural colour vision. During surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial one. Patients often describe being amazed at how bright and colourful the world looks afterward.

Many say things like:

• “I didn’t realise how dull everything had become until after surgery.”
• “Whites are white again, not yellow.”
• “The colours are so bright-it feels like seeing the world in HD.”

When should you seek help?

If you’ve noticed faded colours, increased glare, or poor night vision, it’s time to have your eyes assessed. Cataracts won’t go away on their own and will only worsen over time. Early diagnosis gives you more control over when to have surgery and what type of replacement lens is best for your lifestyle.

Summary

Yes, cataracts can affect colour vision, often making the world look yellow, faded, or dull. This is caused by the clouding and tinting of the natural lens. While glasses cannot fix this, cataract surgery restores brightness and colour clarity, giving you back the full spectrum of vision.

Noticing faded colours? Take our suitability self-test today to see if cataract surgery could restore your vision.