Home Cataracts in Dogs

Cataracts in Dogs: Causes, Signs, Surgery and Living With Them

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens that can grow until it blocks vision.
  • Most cataracts in dogs are inherited; diabetes is the most common disease cause.
  • Many diabetic dogs develop cataracts within a year of diagnosis, often quickly.
  • Surgery is the only treatment that restores vision, with success rates around 85% to 95% in good candidates.
  • Untreated cataracts can cause painful inflammation and glaucoma, so even dogs that don't have surgery need eye checks.
  • No eye drops have been shown to dissolve cataracts in dogs.

Table of Contents

Research What it is Causes Signs Cataract or sclerosis? Surgery Without surgery Eye drops Living with blindness FAQ Sources

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A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. It can stay small or grow until it blocks light and causes blindness.1,2 Most cataracts in dogs are inherited, and diabetes is the most common disease that causes them.1 Surgery is the only treatment that restores vision, and it works well in good candidates.1,3 This guide covers the causes, breeds at risk, how to tell a cataract from normal aging, surgery success and costs, what happens without surgery, and how to help a dog with poor vision.

See a vet the same day if your dog's cloudy eye:

  • Becomes red, painful or squinty, or your dog paws at it4,5
  • Looks bluish and swollen, or the eye seems bigger than the other5,6
  • Appears suddenly, especially in a diabetic dog2,3
  • Comes with sudden blindness6,1
Small black dog with white cataracts in both eyes
Mature cataracts make the pupils look solid white. A dog with cataracts this advanced has little or no vision in those eyes.

What the Research Shows

  • Diabetes and cataracts go together. In a study of 200 diabetic dogs, about half developed cataracts within about 6 months of diagnosis, 75% within a year and 80% within about 16 months.7,8
  • Surgery usually works. Specialist centers report success rates of about 85% to 95% for uncomplicated cataract surgery, and a pooled review of 1,779 eyes found vision restored in 86%.9,10,3,8
  • Leaving cataracts alone has risks. In a Canadian study of 77 eyes, all 8 untreated eyes ended up painful, inflamed or removed, compared with 7 of 34 operated eyes.11,8
  • Not every dog is a candidate. At one university hospital, only 35% of 244 dogs evaluated for cataracts went on to surgery, and the most common reason was retinal degeneration.12
  • Drops don't dissolve cataracts. A 2015 study reported lanosterol drops reduced cataracts in a few dogs, but a 2019 study found it didn't restore lens clarity, and specialists say no medical treatment is proven to reverse cataracts.13,14,1

What Is a Cataract?

The lens sits behind the pupil and focuses light on the retina. A cataract forms when the lens proteins change and become opaque.15,16 Vets describe cataracts by stage:16,2

  • Incipient: a small spot that doesn't affect vision.
  • Immature: more of the lens is cloudy; vision is reduced but some remains.
  • Mature: the whole lens is opaque and the eye is effectively blind.
  • Hypermature: the lens starts to break down and leak protein, which can inflame the eye.

Cataracts covering less than about 30% of the lens rarely affect vision; by about 60%, vision loss usually becomes noticeable.2

What Causes Cataracts in Dogs?

  • Genetics: most cataracts in dogs are inherited, and they can appear at any age, even in young dogs.1,15 Breeds at higher risk include Toy and Miniature Poodles, Bichon Frises, Boston Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers.12,2
  • Diabetes: the most common disease cause. Diabetic cataracts often form quickly, whether or not the diabetes is well controlled.1,3,2 See diabetes in dogs.
  • Other causes: eye inflammation (uveitis), injury, radiation and, rarely, poor nutrition.1,15

Cataracts tend to progress faster in younger dogs.1

Signs of Cataracts

  • A white or bluish-white cloud behind the pupil2
  • Bumping into furniture, missing toys or treats, or trouble in dim light2,17
  • Hesitating on stairs or in new places17
  • A red, painful or squinting eye, which can mean inflammation from a leaking cataract4,12

Cataract or Nuclear Sclerosis?

Nearly all older dogs develop nuclear (lenticular) sclerosis, a normal hardening of the lens that gives both eyes a smooth bluish-gray haze from about 6 years of age.18,19,20 It's painless and doesn't block much vision, and no treatment is needed.18,20 A cataract is a disease change that can blind a dog.18

The two can look alike, and they can't be reliably told apart without an eye exam with the pupils dilated.18 In one referral study, 17 of 244 dogs sent in for "cataracts" actually had only nuclear sclerosis.12 See cloudy eyes in dogs.

Cataract Surgery for Dogs

Surgery is the only treatment that restores vision.1 A veterinary ophthalmologist removes the cloudy lens through a small incision using ultrasound (phacoemulsification), usually replacing it with an artificial lens.9,3

  • Who is a candidate: before surgery, dogs have an electroretinogram (ERG) to check the retina still works and an ultrasound to check for retinal detachment. Unregulated diabetes can be a reason to delay surgery.9,10,12
  • Timing: results are best before the cataract is fully mature and before inflammation sets in, so specialists generally recommend operating early.1,3
  • Success: about 85% to 95% for uncomplicated surgery.9,10,3
  • Risks: pressure spikes, inflammation, glaucoma and retinal detachment. In a specialist's pooled review, temporary pressure spikes affected about 25% of eyes, glaucoma about 11% and retinal detachment about 4%.8,9
  • Aftercare: eye drops several times a day for weeks and several rechecks with the ophthalmologist.9,10
  • Cost: one university hospital lists about $3,700 for uncomplicated surgery (both eyes are usually done at once), including pre-surgery tests and early rechecks but not medications. Prices vary, so ask for a written estimate.9

Candidacy depends on retinal function, general health for anesthesia, and whether your dog can be medicated and kept quiet after surgery.9,21,1 You can find a specialist through the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.1

What Happens Without Surgery?

Many dogs live happily with cataracts, but cataracts aren't harmless. As they mature, leaking lens protein can cause painful inflammation (lens-induced uveitis), which can lead to glaucoma, lens dislocation or retinal detachment.3,12,4 In one small study, eyes treated with anti-inflammatory drops did better than untreated eyes, though more than half still developed problems.11,8 Another study found no significant difference in long-term complications between eyes with and without surgery, although eyes that were poor surgical candidates did worse.22

If you choose not to operate, ask your vet about anti-inflammatory eye drops and regular eye-pressure checks.11,2 See glaucoma in dogs.

Can Eye Drops Dissolve Cataracts?

No. Specialists say there is no proven medical treatment that reverses or slows cataracts, and some promoted products may make them worse.1 No topical drops have been shown to delay cataract progression; anti-inflammatory drops only control inflammation.2 Early lab and dog studies of lanosterol drops attracted attention, but later research found it didn't restore lens clarity.13,14

Living With a Dog Who Can't See Well

  • Keep furniture and food and water bowls in the same places.17
  • Speak as you approach so you don't startle your dog.17
  • Block stairs and pools with gates.17
  • Use scented or noisy toys, and teach cues such as "step up" and "stop."17

Most dogs adapt well to vision loss, often better than their owners expect.17

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dogs with cataracts eventually go blind?

Not always. Small cataracts may never affect vision, but many grow, and mature cataracts cause blindness in that eye. Diabetic cataracts often progress quickly.

Are cataracts painful for dogs?

The cataract itself isn't painful, but a leaking cataract can cause painful inflammation and glaucoma. A red, squinting eye needs a vet.

How much does cataract surgery cost for a dog?

Usually several thousand dollars, including pre-surgery tests and follow-up visits. Costs vary by region and clinic.

Is cataract surgery successful in dogs?

Yes, in good candidates. Specialist centers report about 85% to 95% success for uncomplicated surgery, though complications such as glaucoma can occur.

Should a 12-year-old dog have cataract surgery?

Possibly. Candidacy depends less on age than on retinal function, health for anesthesia, and whether your dog can tolerate weeks of eye drops.

How long can a dog live with cataracts?

Cataracts don't shorten life, but untreated cataracts should be monitored because inflammation and glaucoma can develop.

Can cataracts in dogs be treated without surgery?

Vision can't be restored without surgery, and no drops dissolve cataracts. Anti-inflammatory drops can help protect the eye from complications.

What can be mistaken for cataracts in dogs?

Nuclear sclerosis, a normal age-related haze, and corneal problems such as swelling, scarring or deposits. An eye exam tells them apart.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 15, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Bromberg N. Cataracts. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
  2. Barnes C, Weir M, Ward E. Cataracts in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, May 2024.
  3. Hamor RE. The lens in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  4. Hunter T, Llera R, Ward E. Uveitis in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, February 2023.
  5. Williams K, Hunter T, Ward E. Glaucoma in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, April 2023.
  6. Gelatt KN. Glaucoma in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated September 2024.
  7. Treatment and management of canine diabetic cataract. Veterinary Practice. Summarizing Beam S, Correa MT, Davidson MG. A retrospective-cohort study on the development of cataracts in dogs with diabetes mellitus: 200 cases. Veterinary Ophthalmology, 1999.
  8. Coster M. Cataracts and cataract surgery in dogs. MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center.
  9. Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Ophthalmology service.
  10. NC State Veterinary Hospital. Ophthalmology service.
  11. Lim CC, Bakker SC, Waldner CL, Sandmeyer LS, Grahn BH. Cataracts in 44 dogs (77 eyes): a comparison of outcomes for no treatment, topical medical management, or phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2011.
  12. Outcomes of dogs presented for cataract evaluation: a retrospective study. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2005.
  13. Hejtmancik JF. Cataracts dissolved. Nature, 2015 (commentary on Zhao L, et al., Nature 2015).
  14. Daszynski DM, et al. Failure of oxysterols such as lanosterol to restore lens clarity from cataracts. Scientific Reports, 2019.
  15. Gelatt KN. Disorders of the lens in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated April 2026.
  16. Ofri R. Cataracts: causes and classification. European Veterinary Conference Voorjaarsdagen, 2008. Conference proceedings hosted by IVIS.
  17. Korb C, Haeussler DJ. Living with a blind pet. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
  18. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Signs of age-related change in the eye.
  19. van der Woerdt A. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lens. European Veterinary Conference Voorjaarsdagen, 2017. Conference proceedings hosted by IVIS.
  20. Weir M, Hunter T, Ward E. Lenticular sclerosis in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, November 2023.
  21. Fischer MC. Canine cataracts: diagnostic procedures and therapy. Vet Times, March 2020.
  22. Krishnan H, Hetzel S, McLellan GJ, Bentley E. Comparison of outcomes in cataractous eyes of dogs undergoing phacoemulsification versus eyes not undergoing surgery. Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2020.

About this article

Last updated : fully rewritten using the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, university ophthalmology services, IVIS-hosted proceedings and published studies on diabetic cataracts and surgery outcomes; added causes, stages, cataract vs. nuclear sclerosis, surgery success and risks, outcomes without surgery, eye drops, living with blindness, a key takeaways summary and FAQ.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.