One certainty in life is that everyone will eventually develop cataracts. In fact, cataract formation starts earlier than you might think, typically in your 40s. Most cataracts, however, do not become significant enough to notice until your 50s or 60s, which is when most folks elect to have cataract surgery. But how do we know when it’s time for surgery?
Cataracts and astigmatism are common vision conditions that impact your overall quality of vision in the healthy eye. The eye's natural lens focuses light and helps you see people and objects at varying distances. When you have a cataract, the lens in your eye stiffens and hardens resulting in blurry cloudy vision.
When you have cataract surgery it marks the beginning of a whole new world of possibilities - from not needing to wear your glasses all the time, to being able to drive at night easily again.
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision impairment in the US. Because cataracts form slowly and over a long period of time, many people suffer from this condition without ever realizing it. Today, cataracts affect more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older. And as the U.S. population ages, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by the year 2020.