Over time, cataracts become worse and start to interfere with vision. Important skills can be affected, such as driving, and loss of vision can affect the overall quality of life in many ways including reading, working, hobbies and sports. If left untreated, cataracts will eventually cause total blindness.

Can you go permanently blind from cataracts?

Yes — if left untreated, cataracts cause continual loss of vision, eventually leading to legal blindness or even total blindness. But when people hear the word "blindness," many assume that severe vision loss is permanent and cannot be cured.

Can a cataract get worse quickly?

But if you're asking yourself, “Can cataracts get worse quickly?” the answer is, unfortunately, yes, and it's this type of aggressive, fast-growing cataracts that we'll tackle here. There are also certain activities or conditions that can increase your likelihood of developing aggressive, fast-growing cataracts.