Comprehensive Guide On Cataracts, Surgery & PIP Eligibility

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts, changes in vision, or complications after surgery, you should seek advice from an optometrist, your GP, or your hospital eye clinic urgently. PIP entitlement depends on how a condition affects your ability to complete daily living and mobility activities, not solely on diagnosis. For personalised support, consult a qualified welfare rights adviser, disability organisation, or legal professional.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are one of the most common causes of visual impairment in the UK and worldwide. For some people, they develop slowly and are simply an inconvenience, but for others, they can significantly affect independence, work capability, driving safety, and daily living. If cataracts are affecting your ability to function day-to-day, you may be wondering what treatment involves, what happens after surgery, and whether cataracts can support a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim.

This guide explains cataracts in plain English, the medical process from diagnosis to surgery, possible complications including Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), and where cataracts may fit within disability support and PIP eligibility.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. The lens sits behind the pupil and helps focus light onto the retina so you can see clearly. When a cataract forms, the lens becomes increasingly opaque (cloudy), causing vision to become blurred, dim, or distorted.

Think of it like looking through a foggy window, the image is still there, but the clarity and brightness are reduced.

Cataracts may occur in one eye or both, and they typically worsen over time.

Who Can Get Them?

Cataracts can affect anyone, but they are most common in older adults.

You may be more likely to develop cataracts if you:

Are aged 60+ (age-related cataracts are the most common)
Have diabetes (especially long-term or poorly controlled)
Smoke or have smoked in the past
Drink heavily over many years
Have had long-term steroid treatment (including tablets and inhalers)
Have long-term exposure to UV light (sunlight without eye protection)
Have a family history of cataracts
Have experienced trauma to the eye (injury-related cataracts)
Have had previous eye surgery
Have certain medical conditions affecting inflammation in the eye

Some people also develop cataracts earlier in life, and in rare cases babies can be born with congenital cataracts.

What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms usually develop gradually and may include:

Blurred, cloudy, or misty vision
Sensitivity to light and glare (especially headlights at night)
Halos around lights
Colours looking faded or yellowish
Poor night vision
Frequent changes to glasses prescriptions
Double vision in one eye (monocular diplopia)
Needing brighter light for reading or close work

For many people, glare is one of the most disabling symptoms, particularly in winter months, bright sunlight, or night driving.

What Is the Diagnosis

Cataracts are usually diagnosed through an eye examination by:

An optician/optometrist (often first point of detection)
A GP referral to ophthalmology (eye hospital clinic)
A hospital eye specialist (ophthalmologist)

Diagnostic tools commonly include:

Visual acuity test (reading letters from a chart)
Slit-lamp examination (microscope used to inspect the lens)
Retinal examination (to rule out other causes of visual loss)
Measurement of eye pressure (to check for glaucoma)

Diagnosis is usually straightforward, but doctors also check for other eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or retinal issues.

What Is PCO?

PCO stands for Posterior Capsule Opacification.

When cataract surgery is done, the cloudy lens is removed, but the surgeon usually leaves behind a thin layer called the posterior capsule, which acts as a support for the new artificial lens implant.

Sometimes, months or years after surgery, cells can grow over this capsule, causing it to become cloudy. This leads to symptoms similar to cataracts again:

Blurred vision
Glare
Reduced clarity

PCO is often described as a “secondary cataract”, but it is not a true cataract returning, it’s a clouding of the lens capsule.

What is the Resolution

Cataract surgery

The only long-term effective resolution for cataracts is surgery. Cataract drops, vitamins, and supplements cannot reverse cataracts once they develop.

During surgery:

The cloudy lens is broken up (usually by ultrasound) and removed
An intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted to replace the natural lens
The procedure is usually done under local anaesthesia
Surgery normally takes around 15–30 minutes
Most people go home the same day

Treating PCO

PCO is treated with a quick outpatient laser procedure called:

✅ YAG laser capsulotomy

This takes only a few minutes and is usually painless. The laser creates a small opening in the cloudy capsule so light can pass through clearly again.

What Are The Risks Of Surgery?

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful operations performed, but every surgery carries risks.

Possible risks include:

Infection (endophthalmitis, rare but serious)
Bleeding
Swelling of the cornea
Swelling of the retina (cystoid macular oedema)
Retinal detachment
Raised eye pressure (glaucoma risk)
Dislocation of the artificial lens
Persistent inflammation
Visual disturbances (halos, glare, “edge” effects)
PCO is developing months/years later

Most complications are rare, but it’s important that patients are fully informed, especially people who already have neurological conditions, diabetes, autoimmune illness, or eye disease.

Can Cataracts Grow Back?

A true cataract cannot grow back because the natural lens has been removed.

However, vision can become cloudy again due to PCO, which is why many people mistakenly believe the cataract has returned.

PCO is very common and treatable with laser, and once treated it usually does not return.

Can You Become Blind?

If cataracts are left untreated, they can eventually cause severe visual impairment, and in some cases, functional blindness (meaning you cannot safely navigate or live independently due to poor sight).

However:

Cataracts are treatable
Early diagnosis makes treatment easier
Surgery is highly effective for most people

That said, if cataracts exist alongside other eye disease (for example, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy), vision may not fully improve, and serious sight loss could occur depending on the underlying condition.

Can You Drive Or Operate Machinery?

This depends on how advanced the cataracts are.

Many people still drive early on, but cataracts often cause:

Dangerous glare from headlights
Reduced contrast sensitivity (can’t judge distances well)
Poor vision in rain or darkness
Difficulty reading signs or seeing pedestrians

In the UK, you are legally responsible for ensuring you meet driving vision standards. If cataracts affect your safety, you should stop driving and speak to your optician/eye specialist.

⚠️ Operating machinery can also be unsafe if your vision is impaired, especially in workplaces where hazards exist (factories, kitchens, construction sites, warehouses).

Employers should carry out risk assessments and may need to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 where visual impairment meets disability thresholds.

Are You Eligible To Receive PIP

PIP is not awarded for having a diagnosis, it is awarded based on how your condition affects your ability to function.

Cataracts may contribute to PIP eligibility where they cause:

Daily living difficulties, such as:

Needing help preparing food safely due to sight impairment
Difficulty reading medication labels
Difficulty washing safely (risk of falls)
Needing help managing money/letters/forms
Difficulty communicating or reading (where impairment is severe)

Mobility difficulties, such as:

Difficulty navigating outdoors safely
Being unable to plan or follow journeys due to reduced vision
Increased risk when crossing roads due to poor sight/glare

However, many people with cataracts will not meet the threshold unless:

The cataracts are severe
Surgery is delayed / unsuitable
There are complications
There are additional conditions worsening function (neurological illness, diabetes, MS, balance issues, anxiety, cognitive impairment)

✅ Strong evidence includes:

Eye clinic letters
Optician reports
Visual acuity tests
Hospital appointment history
Statements describing real-world safety risks and daily struggles

Are Cararacts Related to Chronic Illnesses?

Yes, cataracts can be linked with chronic illnesses and long-term medication use.

They are more common in people with:

Diabetes (high blood sugar affects lens proteins)
Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders
Neurological conditions (indirectly due to medications, mobility issues, or reduced health resilience)
Long-term steroid use (tablets/inhalers)
Chronic kidney disease
Severe malnutrition or vitamin deficiency
Smoking-related vascular disease

Cataracts can also have a strong correlation with ageing, but chronic illness can speed up development, worsen progression, or delay surgery due to medical complexity.

Conclusion

Around a decade ago, I had my first cataract surgery on my right eye, and not long after, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It’s strange how life can mark time like that, with events that stay etched into your memory forever.

Now, on the eve of my 25th birthday, I’ve been hit with another devastating blow: I’ve been told I have Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO) in my right eye, and a cataract developing in my left, meaning I will likely need surgery on both eyes.

If I’m honest, I’m still trying to process it. This news has shaken me more than I expected. It brought my mother to tears, and she said something that stayed with me, that if she could wave a magic wand and make it all go away, she would. Hearing her say that reminded me just how much families quietly carry when illness enters the picture. It doesn’t just affect one person; it affects everyone who loves them.

Right now, I’m giving myself time to breathe, to compose myself, and to come to terms with the reality of what lies ahead. But I do want to share my journey openly, because I know there are many others facing sight loss, chronic illness, and life-changing medical news behind closed doors.

When I feel ready, and once the initial shock settles, I will write more in-depth about my cataracts and what this experience is truly like. I hope to share that with you soon.

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