APEA Pathophysiology EENT Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Mastering Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat!

Blurry vision is indeed a common visual defect associated with cataracts. As cataracts progress, they cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy, which impairs the clear transmission of light to the retina. This results in a gradual decrease in visual acuity, often described as blurriness. Patients may notice that their vision feels soft or hazy, making it difficult to see clearly, especially in bright light or at night.

While sudden vision loss can occur in certain eye conditions, it is not a typical symptom of cataracts, which tend to develop slowly over time. Circular halos around lights are more commonly associated with conditions like glaucoma or corneal edema rather than cataracts. Loss of peripheral vision is often related to retinal issues or glaucoma as well, but cataracts primarily affect central vision leading to blurriness. Thus, the characteristic symptom of cataracts is the gradual development of blurry vision.