Are Cataracts at a Young Age Getting More Common? 

 Sometimes likened to “turning your eyes into a Vaseline-smudged” window, cataracts are one of the most common age-related causes of vision loss. Cataracts are a progressive eye condition in which the vision gets clouded due to the buildup of proteins and fibers between the lens of the eye and the retina. 

Most cases of cataracts are caused by aging. They mostly begin to develop after age 50, and it generally takes years for them to become noticeable. The average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 67.7. 

However, over the past decade, experts have noticed an increase in cataract surgery among people 60 and under. Why is this happening? Is there something around us clouding our retinas earlier? Or are ophthalmologists simply being too “trigger happy” when it comes to cataracts? 

What are “early-onset cataracts”?   

Cataract formation is usually a slow process, which makes it hard to pinpoint the exact moment when cataracts develop. The process usually starts between the ages of 40 and 50, but it will take several years for the symptoms of cataracts to become a nuisance.

Generally speaking, cataracts that begin to develop before the age of 40 or that are causing blurry vision before the age of 60 are considered “early onset.” A reasonable explanation for the increase in cataract surgery among younger folks would be that more people are developing cataracts prematurely – but is this what’s happening?  

What causes cataracts in young adults?  

Often, cases of cataracts among younger people are caused by factors other than normal aging. These less-common types of cataracts include:   

• Congenital cataracts in newborns are often due to genetic reasons or following exposure to some viruses like rubella, toxoplasmosis, or cytomegalovirus. 

• Traumatic cataracts happen quickly, generally after blunt trauma, a penetrating eye injury, or retinal detachment.  

• A side effect of some types of medication, especially the long-term use of steroids.  

The prevalence rates of these rarer causes of cataracts have remained mostly unchanged over the last couple of decades. In the case of congenital or pediatric cataracts, rates have decreased, especially in developed countries, thanks to improved screening and prenatal care. Overall, they don’t seem to be behind the changing trends in cataract surgery.

Risk factors for age-related cataracts

Cataracts are a lot like wrinkles or gray hairs: once the process starts, it won’t go back on its own, but it won’t necessarily progress at the same speed in everybody. Two people can get their first gray hairs at the age of 40 – and one of them may be completely silver by 50, while the other may see their grays confined to the temples well into their 60s. 

Something similar happens with cataracts. Even if they’re starting at the same age, the following factors can all speed up their development:  

• Family history: if your relatives had noticeable cataracts at an earlier age, you’ll be more likely to see the same problem.  

• Chronic medical conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes (high blood sugar levels), obesity, or glaucoma all speed up cataracts.  

• Exposure to bright sunlight without adequate eye protection (ultraviolet-blocking sunglasses).  

• Smoking

These risk factors, especially diabetes, have steadily risen over the past 20 years. Naturally, this has also affected many people’s eye health.

Are we noticing the symptoms of cataracts more often? 

 Over the past 30 years, the American health care system has taken a much more proactive approach to prevention and early screening.

The eye health field has been a part of this movement: Currently, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends all adults get a full eye exam at the age of 40, followed by visual acuity checkups every two years.

The result? We are now catching early-stage cataracts more often, which brings the conversation of surgery to the table earlier.

Yet most eye doctors agree that cataract surgery is only necessary once the condition has progressed enough to affect our daily lives. Lifestyle changes also play a role here: our screen-focused jobs and hobbies place a much higher demand on our eyes.

Plus, modern 60-year-olds are much more active than they used to be, and they’re a lot less likely to accept double vision or blurriness as “something to get used to.”

Why are young people now having more cataract surgery?

So far, we’ve seen that cataracts may be progressing more rapidly among some, and their effects have a bigger impact on many. One final factor influencing the age of cataract surgery is that the procedure is now easier, more successful, and more available than ever.

Over the past decade, the technology behind eye surgery has been revolutionized by the use of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Instead of removing the lens of the eye and “clearing” the protein buildup, we can now implant a tiny artificial lens that replaces the old, “cloudy” one. 

 These newer procedures don’t require a hospital stay, use a much smaller incision, and can even improve pre-existing issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness. This means that after the surgery, many patients can say goodbye to their old eyeglasses or contact lenses or switch them for a lighter prescription. 

Is it time for you to consider cataract surgery? Come to the Assil-Gaur Eye Institute of Los Angeles

Like all other eye diseases, cataract care is a fast-paced field requiring continuous training and a precision-oriented approach. At the Assil Gaur Eye Institute (AGEI), Dr. Kerry Assil and her team take pride in combining state-of-the-art technology with a thorough consideration for routine eye care. 

Their patient-centric approach and openness to innovation have earned AGEI national renown. Our facility is now one of the West Coast’s top centers for ophthalmological surgery. We have successfully contributed to FDA clinical trials and brought about the next generation of techniques to a wider audience. 

To request a consultation, please make an appointment online or call us at 866-945-2745.  

We are conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area in or near Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.  

Sources 

What Are Cataracts? – American Academy of Ophthalmology  
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts 

What Is Aphakia? – American Academy of Ophthalmology  
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/aphakia 

Eye Health Statistics – American Academy of Ophthalmology  
https://www.aao.org/newsroom/eye-health-statistics 

Eye Health Data and Statistics | National Eye Institute 
http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/cataract 

Causes of Cataracts | National Eye Institute 
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts/causes-cataracts