What is a common symptom of cataracts?

Gradual, painless blurring of vision is indeed a common symptom of cataracts. Cataracts develop when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, which interferes with the passage of light and can lead to progressively worsening vision. This blurriness occurs slowly over time, often making it difficult for individuals to notice the changes at first. As the cataracts mature, patients may experience increasingly diminished clarity of vision, difficulty with night vision, and sensitivity to glare.

In contrast, other symptoms like severe eye pain, flashes of light, or sudden vision loss are typically associated with different ocular conditions or complications. Severe eye pain could indicate an acute glaucoma attack, flashes of light may occur with retinal detachment, and sudden vision loss could result from a number of urgent situations, including retinal tears or strokes in the visual centers. These symptoms differ from the typical presentation of cataracts, where any visual impairment is generally gradual and without discomfort.