Cataract

Cataract

Age-related cataracts are responsible for 48% of world blindness, which represents about 18 million people. Globally cataracts causes moderate to severe disability in 53.8 million people as of 2004 (52.2 million of whom are in low and middle income countries).

In many countries, surgical services are inadequate, and cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness. As populations age, the number of people with cataracts is growing. Cataracts are also an important cause of low vision in both developed and developing countries. Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent, as a result of long waits for operations and barriers to surgical uptake, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems.

In the United States, age-related lenticular changes have been reported in 42% of those between the ages of 52 and 64, 60% of those between the ages 65 and 74, and 91% of those between the ages of 75 and 85.