Untreated cataracts can lead to total blindness. Cataracts typically progress through various stages known as incipient, immature, mature, and hypermature. If treatment is not done early on when symptoms of a cataract first begin to affect vision, then the cataract will eventually progress to the hypermature stage. While hypermature cataracts can also be treated, the likelihood of complications is much higher and the success rate is also much lower.