Can Cataract Surgery Improve Night Vision?

At Las Vegas Eye Institute, we frequently encounter questions about the impact of cataract surgery on night vision. This article will discuss if cataract surgery can improve night vision and the potential benefits of cataract surgery. Las Vegas Eye Institute strives to provide clear, expert-backed information to our patients considering cataract surgery. For personalized advice and to discuss your options, please call us to schedule a cataract surgery consultation.

Can Cataract Surgery Improve Night Vision?

Yes, cataract surgery can improve night vision. Cataracts cause poor night vision, glare, and halos around lights, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions. After undergoing cataract surgery, where the cloudy natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), many patients report a significant improvement in their ability to see at night. This procedure restores clear vision and reduces or eliminates the disturbances caused by cataracts. A recent study assessing patients’ vision using a driving simulator found that near misses and crashes dropped by as much as 48% after cataract surgery, indicating a significant improvement in night vision (source: AAO 2019, the 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology). Another study showed that of 99 patients who answered a postoperative questionnaire, 41% had been driving at night before their cataract surgery and this increased to 80% who were driving at night after cataract surgery (source: Pfoff, D., & Werner, J. (1994). Effect of cataract surgery on contrast sensitivity and glare in patients with 20/50 or better Snellen acuity. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 20, 620–625).

However, it is important to acknowledge that some individuals may still experience side effects such as halos or glare around bright lights post-surgery. These effects are typically temporary and diminish as the eyes adjust to the new lenses. The type of IOL implanted can influence night vision outcomes, with certain premium IOLs designed to minimize glare and enhance contrast sensitivity, aiding in activities like night driving.

Despite the general improvement in night vision after cataract surgery, those with other vision problems or eye diseases may not notice a change in those specific issues. The overall quality of vision, including the perception of glare and halos, often improves post-surgery, but experiences can vary from person to person. Cataract surgery is a widely performed and effective procedure to regain better night vision, yet the degree of improvement and any side effects will depend on the individual’s unique condition, the chosen IOL, and eye health.

How do cataracts affect night vision?

Cataracts significantly affect night vision by causing the eye’s lens to become cloudy, leading to various symptoms that impair visibility in low-light conditions. This cloudiness obstructs the passage of light, diminishing vision quality, especially in dim lighting. Cataracts reduce contrast sensitivity, making it difficult to distinguish objects from their background in poor light. They also increase sensitivity to light, causing bright lights to appear overwhelmingly intense and creating challenges in environments with stark lighting contrasts, such as driving at night against oncoming headlights. In one study, 85.9% of people with cataracts in both eyes reported difficulty driving at night (source: .Additionally, cataracts can cause light to scatter inside the eye, resulting in halos around light sources and further impairing night vision. This condition also leads to blurred vision, which is exacerbated in low-light situations, and complicates tasks requiring clear vision, like night driving.

The decline in night vision can significantly affect daily activities, with poor night vision often being one of the first signs of developing cataracts. This can manifest as dimmer, blurrier vision and problems with seeing streetlights or headlights clearly, ultimately affecting the ability to drive safely at dusk or in the dark. Once cataracts start to impede day-to-day tasks, surgery becomes the necessary solution to address these visual impairments.

How Much Will Night Vision Improve after Cataract Surgery?

Night vision typically improves significantly after cataract surgery, offering an instant and dramatic enhancement in visual quality. The removal of the cataract clears the cloudy obstruction in the eye’s lens, facilitating a better perception of light and detail, which is crucial for activities like night driving. Studies, such as those using driving simulators, have shown that incidents like near misses and crashes can decrease by up to 48% post-surgery, indicating a substantial boost in night vision and overall visual function.

However, the extent of night vision improvement varies among patients and depends on several factors. The type of intraocular lens (IOL) used during surgery plays a crucial role, with certain IOLs specifically designed to reduce night glare and halos. Although many patients experience a noticeable reduction in night glare and halos after surgery, some may encounter these issues temporarily during the healing process. The health of the cornea also plays a crucial role in night vision quality post-cataract surgery, a factor carefully evaluated by our experts.

Additionally, the presence of refractive errors post-surgery can be corrected with prescription glasses, possibly with an anti-reflective coating to minimize night glare. While cataract surgery leads to a marked improvement in night vision, the full extent of this improvement and the duration of any post-operative glare or halos can vary based on individual healing processes and eye conditions. Overall, the surgery allows many patients to safely resume night-time activities that were previously challenging or unsafe due to poor vision. Advancements in ophthalmology have significantly improved the success of cataract surgeries, offering patients at Las Vegas Eye Institute better night vision.