Cataracts themselves do not cause pain
A cataract is a clouding of your eye's lens. The cloudiness builds slowly over months or years, and the lens itself has no nerves that sense pain. You will not feel a cataract forming, and you will not wake up with eye pain because of one. What you will notice instead is blurred or dimmed vision, glare around lights, or trouble seeing at night — but not pain.
If your eye hurts and you have a cataract, the pain is coming from something else. That something else may be related to your cataract (like pressure building inside your eye), or it may be unrelated (like dry eye or infection). Either way, eye pain is a signal to contact your eye doctor, not something to wait out.
Key Takeaways
- Cataracts cause blurred vision and glare, not pain — the lens has no pain nerves.
- Eye pain with a cataract usually means a different condition is present, such as glaucoma, uveitis, or dry eye.
- Secondary glaucoma can develop when a cataract swells and blocks fluid drainage inside the eye, raising pressure and causing pain.
- Contact your eye doctor the same day if you have eye pain, redness, or sudden vision changes, even if you know you have a cataract.
When a cataract can indirectly cause pressure and pain
Although the cataract itself does not hurt, a swollen cataract can trigger a serious condition called secondary glaucoma. As a cataract matures, the lens can swell and take up more space inside the eye. If it swells enough, it can block the tiny channels through which fluid normally drains. Pressure builds inside the eye, and that pressure does cause pain — often sharp, aching, or throbbing pain in and around the eye.
Secondary glaucoma from a cataract is less common than other causes of glaucoma, but it is one reason why cataracts should not be ignored. If you have a cataract and suddenly develop eye pain, redness, or blurred vision that is worse than your usual cataract symptoms, this could be secondary glaucoma. You need to see your eye doctor the same day, or go to an urgent care or emergency room if your doctor cannot see you quickly.
The treatment for secondary glaucoma caused by a cataract is usually cataract surgery. Removing the clouded lens relieves the pressure and stops the pain.
Other eye conditions that cause pain alongside cataracts
Many eye problems can exist at the same time as a cataract, and some of them do cause pain. Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye that produces pain, redness, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Dry eye causes a burning or gritty sensation and can feel sharp when you blink. Corneal abrasion (a scratch on the clear front surface of your eye) produces when ready, severe pain. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency that causes sudden eye pain, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, and vomiting.
If you have a cataract and develop eye pain, your doctor needs to examine you to find out what is causing it. Do not assume the pain is from the cataract itself. Pain is your eye's way of signaling that something needs attention now.
What cataract symptoms actually feel like
Knowing what a cataract does cause can help you tell the difference between cataract symptoms and pain from something else. A cataract makes your vision cloudy or hazy, as if you are looking through a dirty window or frosted glass. Colors may look faded or yellowed. You may have trouble reading, driving at night, or seeing faces clearly. Bright lights and the sun may create a halo or glare that makes it hard to see.
None of these symptoms involve pain. You might feel frustrated or anxious about your vision changes, but you should not feel physical pain in your eye. If you do, that is a separate problem that needs diagnosis.
When to contact your eye doctor about pain
Call your eye doctor the same day if you have eye pain along with any of these: redness, sudden vision changes, sensitivity to light, discharge, or a feeling that something is in your eye. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to an urgent care center or emergency room. Eye pain can signal conditions that need prompt treatment to prevent vision loss.
If you have a cataract and your vision is gradually getting worse but you have no pain, you can schedule a regular appointment with your eye doctor. Cataracts do not have to be removed right away — surgery is done when the cloudiness starts to interfere with your daily life and activities you care about. But if pain develops, that timeline changes, and you need to be seen sooner.
What happens at the eye doctor visit
Your eye doctor will ask you to describe the pain: where it is, how long it has lasted, whether it is constant or comes and goes, and what makes it better or worse. They will measure the pressure inside your eye, examine the cataract itself, and look at the rest of your eye to find the source of the pain. They may dilate your pupil to see the back of your eye, or use imaging to check the structures inside.
Depending on what they find, the treatment might be eye drops, medication, or a referral to a specialist. If the pain is from secondary glaucoma caused by your cataract, your doctor will discuss cataract surgery as the next step. If the pain is from a different condition, they will treat that condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a cataract cause a dull ache behind my eye?
A cataract itself does not cause aching pain. A dull ache or pressure sensation behind the eye can come from several sources: tension headaches, sinus pressure, eye strain from trying to see through a cloudy lens, or increased eye pressure from glaucoma. Your eye doctor can determine the cause during an exam.
Is it normal to have eye pain after cataract surgery?
Some mild discomfort, scratchiness, or a feeling of pressure is normal for a few days after cataract surgery. Sharp pain, severe pain, or pain that gets worse after the first few days is not normal and should be reported to your surgeon right away. These can signal infection or other complications.
My cataract is mild and I have no pain — do I need surgery now?
No. Cataracts are removed when they interfere with your vision enough to affect your daily life — not on a schedule. If your vision is still acceptable to you and you have no pain or other complications, you can wait. Your eye doctor will monitor it during regular visits.
What if my eye pain goes away on its own?
Even if pain goes away, contact your eye doctor to report it. Pain that resolves can still signal a condition that needs monitoring or treatment. Your doctor needs to know it happened and examine your eye to make sure nothing serious is developing.
Can I use over-the-counter pain reliever drops for eye pain?
Do not use numbing eye drops on your own for more than a day or two. These drops can mask serious problems and damage your eye if used too long. Use them only as directed on the package, and see your eye doctor to find out what is causing the pain.