Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  Age-related cataracts are responsible for 51% of world blindness, about 20 million people. […] Globally, cataracts cause moderate to severe disability in 53.8 million (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. […] Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent as a result of long waits for, and barriers to, surgery, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems. […] In the United States, age-related lens changes have been reported in 42% between the ages of 52 and 64, 60% between the ages 65 and 74, and 91% between the ages of 75 and 85. […] Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.

• #2 EPIDEMIOLOGY

  https://www.aao.org/education/topic-detail/cataract–middle-eastnorth-africa

  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cataract is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the world (47.9%). […] The overall prevalence of visual loss as a result of cataract increases each year as the worlds population ages. […] In 2002, cataract caused reversible blindness in more than 17 million (47.8%) of the 37 million blind individuals worldwide; this figure is projected to reach 40 million by year 2020. […] Cataract accounts for 30%50% of blindness in most African and Asia countries. […] Cataracts occur earlier in life in developing countries and in rural areas, and the incidence is higher.

• #3 Cataract

  https://www.abdn.ac.uk/medical/elf/courses/view/171082/cataract/1/page12

  Cataract formation is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It accounts for 51% of the world blindness, roughly 20 million people as of 2010. Cataracts are more common in women than men. […] Reduction in smoking UV light exposure could delay cataract onset.

• #4 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  The prevalence, distribution, strategies to reduce the cataract prevalence and the disordered physiological processes, causes, and different forms of cataract are discussed. […] In 2010 the Vision Loss Expert Group funded by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Fight for Sight, and others calculated that cataracts caused blindness (visual acuity in the better eye of less than 3/60) in 10.6 million people and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI, visual acuity of between 6/18 and 3/60) in 34.4 million people. However, wide regional variations exist in the prevalence of cataracts. […] The worlds population is increasing (predominantly in developing countries), and people will live to greater ages. So without accessible, efficient cataract surgery, the prevalence will increase. Developing countries bear an increasing burden for cataract blindness because cataracts occur earlier in life, and the incidence is higher.

• #5

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: […] cataract […] In high income countries, diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are more common. […] Among this 1 billion people, the main conditions causing distance vision impairment or blindness are cataract (94 million) […] Spectacle correction for refractive error and surgery for cataract are among the most cost-effective of all health-care interventions. […] only 17% of people with vision impairment or blindness due to cataract have received access to quality surgery.

• #6 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  Cataracts now account for the largest proportion of the global burden of blindness and vision loss. Understanding the changing trends in the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years and the next 15 years is of clear significance for the prevention and control of cataracts in key populations. […] This study aims to assess the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years by using age-period-cohort modeling and to estimate trends in the next 15 years. […] Globally, the number of DALYs due to cataract increased from 3,492,604 in 1990 to 6,676,281 in 2019. […] While the ASDR of cataracts has decreased, there has been a notable increase in the number of DALYs over the past 30 years. Projections suggest that the global burden of cataracts will continue to rise over the next 15 years.

• #7 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  A trend analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 data showed that the global burden of visual impairment due to cataracts exhibited a substantial increase, with the prevalence rate rising by 58.45% and the DALY rate increasing by 32.18% over the past 30 years. […] Our findings showed that over the last 3 decades, higher DALY rates were also associated with lower SDI, HDI, national PM2.5, and ambient UVR. […] We predicted that, due to population growth and aging, the DALYs due to cataracts for both sexes are expected to continue to increase over the next 15 years. […] Effective global policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of these risk factors could play a critical role in mitigating the impact of cataract and reduce its burden.

• #8 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  Globally, there were 370.4 (95% UI: 163.2 to 689.3) YLDs due to cataract attributed to high BMI in 2019, more than triple the number in 1990. […] The ASR of YLD increased during 1990-2019, with AAPC of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.41 to 1.66). […] In 2019, the burden of cataract due to high BMI was higher in females and the elderly population. […] North Africa and the Middle East were the high-risk areas of cataract attributable to high BMI in 2019, with Saudi Arabia being the country with the heaviest burden. […] In terms of SDI, low-middle SDI regions had the greatest number of cataract-related YLDs due to high BMI in 2019. […] The global YLDs for cataract due to high BMI have shown a notable increase from 1990 to 2019. […] The YLD rate of cataract attributable to high BMI increased with age.

• #9 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  The prevalence, distribution, strategies to reduce the cataract prevalence and the disordered physiological processes, causes, and different forms of cataract are discussed. […] In 2010 the Vision Loss Expert Group funded by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Fight for Sight, and others calculated that cataracts caused blindness (visual acuity in the better eye of less than 3/60) in 10.6 million people and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI, visual acuity of between 6/18 and 3/60) in 34.4 million people. However, wide regional variations exist in the prevalence of cataracts. […] The worlds population is increasing (predominantly in developing countries), and people will live to greater ages. So without accessible, efficient cataract surgery, the prevalence will increase. Developing countries bear an increasing burden for cataract blindness because cataracts occur earlier in life, and the incidence is higher.

• #10 EPIDEMIOLOGY

  https://www.aao.org/education/topic-detail/cataract–middle-eastnorth-africa

  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cataract is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the world (47.9%). […] The overall prevalence of visual loss as a result of cataract increases each year as the worlds population ages. […] In 2002, cataract caused reversible blindness in more than 17 million (47.8%) of the 37 million blind individuals worldwide; this figure is projected to reach 40 million by year 2020. […] Cataract accounts for 30%50% of blindness in most African and Asia countries. […] Cataracts occur earlier in life in developing countries and in rural areas, and the incidence is higher.

• #11 WHO EMRO | Cataract | Health topics

  https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/cataract/

  Cataract is responsible for over 51% of blindness in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. […] Although cataract can be easily surgically operated, in many countries access to eye care is limited. […] As people in the world live longer, the number of people with cataract is anticipated to grow. […] The WHO prevention of blindness programme provides technical support to Member States in the development of comprehensive eye care systems to address the burden of cataract.

• #12 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. […] Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually. […] In the eastern Mediterranean region, cataracts are responsible for over 51% of blindness. […] Childhood-related cataracts are responsible for 520% of world childhood blindness. […] Vision loss due to cataracts increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population, increases the likelihood of falls and road traffic accidents, and by detrimental effects on the quality of life increases mortality.

• #13 Cataract in adults – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cataract-in-adults

  Cataract is a significant cause of blindness worldwide. […] Cataracts continue to be an important cause of blindness. Worldwide, cases of blindness due to cataract have increased from 12.3 million in 1990 to 20 million in 2010, with the proportion of blindness due to cataract ranging from 12.7 percent in North America to 42 percent in Southeast Asia. […] The pattern and rate of blinding disorders differs between nations depending upon whether nutritional and infectious causes of blindness are eradicated and whether there are resources available for treatable disorders such as cataract.

• #14 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  Globally, there were 370.4 (95% UI: 163.2 to 689.3) YLDs due to cataract attributed to high BMI in 2019, more than triple the number in 1990. […] The ASR of YLD increased during 1990-2019, with AAPC of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.41 to 1.66). […] In 2019, the burden of cataract due to high BMI was higher in females and the elderly population. […] North Africa and the Middle East were the high-risk areas of cataract attributable to high BMI in 2019, with Saudi Arabia being the country with the heaviest burden. […] In terms of SDI, low-middle SDI regions had the greatest number of cataract-related YLDs due to high BMI in 2019. […] The global YLDs for cataract due to high BMI have shown a notable increase from 1990 to 2019. […] The YLD rate of cataract attributable to high BMI increased with age.

• #15 Causes of Cataracts | Ausmed

  https://www.ausmed.com/learn/articles/cataracts

  Cataracts are estimated to affect around 411,000 Australians (AIHW 2021). […] In Australia, cataracts are the second most common cause of bilateral vision impairment (Croakey Professional Services 2022) and cataract surgery is the most common elective surgical procedure (ACSQHC 2021). […] Cataracts are a significant issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, being 12 times more likely to affect First Nations people than non-First Nations Australians. Furthermore, First Nations people wait about 63% longer than non-First Nations Australians to receive cataract surgery (Vision 2020 Australia 2019). […] The Cataract Clinical Care Standard was released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in 2021. […] This standard aims to guide the assessment and care of patients over the age of 18 with cataracts in all healthcare settings (ACSQHC 2021).

• #16 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Cataract-Epidemiology.aspx

  Cataracts are very common, but are more likely to develop in older individuals. In the UK alone, age-related cataracts are thought to affect around half of those aged over 65 years to some degree, with this figure rising to 70% in those aged over 85. […] Australian studies have shown that the prevalence of cataract doubles with each decade of age after 40 years and that nearly everyone aged 90 years or older is affected by cataracts. Other developed countries show similar incidence and prevalence of cataract. […] Estimates predict that, currently, cataracts affect around 22 million adults aged 40 or older and that by the year 2020, this number will have approximately doubled. […] Cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision globally and particularly affect populations in developing countries, where they often cause blindness. […] It has been estimated that cases of cataracts will continue to rise predominantly in developing countries where population increases will be the greatest. As the number of individuals aged over 65 years continues to increase, so will the incidence of cataract and the need for cataract surgery.

• #17 Epidemiology – GPnotebook

  https://gpnotebook.com/en-IE/pages/ophthalmology/posterior-subcapsular-cataract/epidemiology

  major cause of blindness worldwide. This may seem surprising, since it is eminently treatable by surgery, with a 95% success rate. However, psychological, social and economical factors prevent many patients from receiving treatment […] In the UK, cataract surgery remains the most frequently undertaken surgical procedure in the NHS. In the financial year ending 2022, there were over 409,000 admissions to hospital for cataract surgery in England, a rate of 3,803 (3,789 to 3,816) per 100,000 population. This number had risen above that seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (1) […] may occur at any age, but they are predominantly a condition of old age (2) […] prevalence increases with age: 16% in 65-69 years age group, 24% in 70-74 years age group, 42% in 75-79 years age group, 59% in 80-84 years age group, 71% in 85 years plus age group

• #18 Epidemiology of age-related cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye1999119

  To investigate the aetiology of cataract, it is necessary to measure both the type and severity of lens opacities, as well as the dose and duration of exposure to the putative risk factor. […] Our current understanding of the aetiology of cataract shows that by far the greatest effect is seen with increasing age. […] However, exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, use of dietary antioxidant vitamins and the presence of diabetes, the occurrence of dehydration and severe diarrhoea and the use of therapeutic drugs such as steroids, and recreational drugs such as nicotine and alcohol, may be important risk factors. […] Until the results of the current studies of the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamin supplements become available, the only effective protective interventions to reduce the risk of cataract seem to be to reduce ocular exposure to UV-B radiation and to stop smoking.

• #19 Senile Cataract (Age-Related Cataract): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210914-overview

  Although the risk of dying as a result of cataract extraction is almost negligible, studies have shown an increased risk of mortality in patients who underwent surgery. […] These data imply an association between senile cataracts and increased mortality. […] Age is an important risk factor for senile cataract. As a person ages, the chance of developing a senile cataract increases. […] In the absence of any other accompanying ocular disease prior to surgery that would affect significantly the visual outcome (eg macular degeneration or optic nerve atrophy), a successful uncomplicated standard ECCE or phacoemulsification carries a very promising visual prognosis of gaining at least 2 lines in the Snellen distance vision chart. […] Education programs are geared toward early detection and surgical intervention when vision is impaired functionally.

• #20 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Cataract-Epidemiology.aspx

  Cataracts are very common, but are more likely to develop in older individuals. In the UK alone, age-related cataracts are thought to affect around half of those aged over 65 years to some degree, with this figure rising to 70% in those aged over 85. […] Australian studies have shown that the prevalence of cataract doubles with each decade of age after 40 years and that nearly everyone aged 90 years or older is affected by cataracts. Other developed countries show similar incidence and prevalence of cataract. […] Estimates predict that, currently, cataracts affect around 22 million adults aged 40 or older and that by the year 2020, this number will have approximately doubled. […] Cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision globally and particularly affect populations in developing countries, where they often cause blindness. […] It has been estimated that cases of cataracts will continue to rise predominantly in developing countries where population increases will be the greatest. As the number of individuals aged over 65 years continues to increase, so will the incidence of cataract and the need for cataract surgery.

• #21 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Cataract-Epidemiology.aspx

  Cataracts are very common, but are more likely to develop in older individuals. In the UK alone, age-related cataracts are thought to affect around half of those aged over 65 years to some degree, with this figure rising to 70% in those aged over 85. […] Australian studies have shown that the prevalence of cataract doubles with each decade of age after 40 years and that nearly everyone aged 90 years or older is affected by cataracts. Other developed countries show similar incidence and prevalence of cataract. […] Estimates predict that, currently, cataracts affect around 22 million adults aged 40 or older and that by the year 2020, this number will have approximately doubled. […] Cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision globally and particularly affect populations in developing countries, where they often cause blindness. […] It has been estimated that cases of cataracts will continue to rise predominantly in developing countries where population increases will be the greatest. As the number of individuals aged over 65 years continues to increase, so will the incidence of cataract and the need for cataract surgery.

• #22 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  Age-related cataracts are responsible for 51% of world blindness, about 20 million people. […] Globally, cataracts cause moderate to severe disability in 53.8 million (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. […] Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent as a result of long waits for, and barriers to, surgery, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems. […] In the United States, age-related lens changes have been reported in 42% between the ages of 52 and 64, 60% between the ages 65 and 74, and 91% between the ages of 75 and 85. […] Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.

• #23 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. […] Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually. […] In the eastern Mediterranean region, cataracts are responsible for over 51% of blindness. […] Childhood-related cataracts are responsible for 520% of world childhood blindness. […] Vision loss due to cataracts increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population, increases the likelihood of falls and road traffic accidents, and by detrimental effects on the quality of life increases mortality.

• #24 Senile Cataract (Age-Related Cataract): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210914-overview

  Senile cataract is an age-related, vision-impairing disease characterized by gradual progressive clouding and thickening of the lens of the eye. It is the worlds leading cause of treatable blindness. […] Senile cataract continues to be the main cause of visual impairment and blindness in the world. […] In the Framingham Eye Study from 1973-1975, senile cataract was seen in 15.5% of the 2477 patients examined. […] An updated study by the Wilmer Eye Institute in 2004 noted that approximately 20.5 million (17.2%) Americans older than 40 years had a cataract in either eye and 6.1 million (5.1%) were pseudophakic/aphakic. […] Prevent Blindness America currently estimates that more than 22 million Americans aged 40 years and older have a cataract. […] Most morbidity associated with senile cataracts occurs postoperatively and is discussed in further detail later.

• #25 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  The highest number of cataracts was observed in people aged 70-74 years. […] Females presented higher YLD rates for cataract attributable to high BMI than males across all ages. […] The current study indicated that the high BMI-related cataract burden was higher in people aged 70-74 years and was higher among females compared with males. […] The burden increased with age, and the population aged 70-74 years group had the highest YLD rate globally. […] The disease burden was particularly severe in females, in North Africa and the Middle East, and in low-middle SDI regions.

• #26 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  The highest number of cataracts was observed in people aged 70-74 years. […] Females presented higher YLD rates for cataract attributable to high BMI than males across all ages. […] The current study indicated that the high BMI-related cataract burden was higher in people aged 70-74 years and was higher among females compared with males. […] The burden increased with age, and the population aged 70-74 years group had the highest YLD rate globally. […] The disease burden was particularly severe in females, in North Africa and the Middle East, and in low-middle SDI regions.

• #27 Congenital and Hereditary Cataracts: Epidemiology and Genetics | SpringerLink

  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-38938-3_1

  Lens opacities or cataracts in children are usually congenital and/or hereditary and less often are secondary to trauma, infections, or systemic disorders such as diabetes or galactosemia. […] Congenital cataracts cause approximately one-third of blindness in infants worldwide. […] Between 8% and 25% of congenital cataracts are inherited, and knowledge of their genetic architecture is increasing. […] Delineating the relationship between the genes and mutations causing cataracts and their phenotypic presentation can help us to understand the biology of the lens and provide a framework for the clinical approach to diagnosis and therapy. […] Cataracts (as well as corneal or vitreous opacities) in children must be diagnosed and treated early to prevent permanent vision loss due to amblyopia. […] Establishing a genetic cause of cataract can be helpful in establishing comorbidities, both ocular and systemic.

• #28 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. […] Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually. […] In the eastern Mediterranean region, cataracts are responsible for over 51% of blindness. […] Childhood-related cataracts are responsible for 520% of world childhood blindness. […] Vision loss due to cataracts increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population, increases the likelihood of falls and road traffic accidents, and by detrimental effects on the quality of life increases mortality.

• #29 Cataracts in Children, Congenital and Acquired – EyeWiki

  https://eyewiki.org/Cataracts_in_Children,_Congenital_and_Acquired

  A cataract is any light scattering opacity of the lens. It is estimated that congenital cataracts are responsible for 5% to 20% of blindness in children worldwide. Incidence varies from country to country. One retrospective study of the prevalence of infantile cataracts in the U.S. showed a rate of 3-4 visually significant cataracts per 10,000 live births. […] These numbers underestimate the total number since they do not take into consideration visually insignificant cataracts. […] Regardless of the etiology, prompt treatment of visually significant cataracts is necessary to allow proper development of vision. […] The first step in the workup of bilateral cataracts should be a family history including examination of family members. If there is a clear autosomal dominant pattern and the child is healthy, further evaluation is not necessary.

• #30 Cataract in children – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cataract-in-children

  Cataracts are a common and frequently curable cause of blindness in children. Early detection and prompt intervention are critical for a good visual outcome, particularly in newborns. […] The reported prevalence of childhood cataracts ranges from 1 to 15 per 10,000 children. The wide range reflects differences in populations, age groups, methods of ascertainment, and case definitions. The prevalence of congenital cataract in developed countries is 1 to 3 per 10,000.

• #31 Cataract | 5-Minute Pediatric Consult

  https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617203/all/Cataract?q=Ectodermal+dysplasia

  Prevalence of childhood cataracts is 1 to 15:10,000, with the range being attributable to reporting, definition, age, and variance in populations. […] Approximately four children per million total population will be born with bilateral congenital cataracts in developed countries. […] Adjusted cumulative incidence is 2.49 per 10,000 in the 1st year of life, increasing to 3.46 by age 15 years.

• #32 Cataract in children – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cataract-in-children

  Cataracts are a common and frequently curable cause of blindness in children. Early detection and prompt intervention are critical for a good visual outcome, particularly in newborns. […] The reported prevalence of childhood cataracts ranges from 1 to 15 per 10,000 children. The wide range reflects differences in populations, age groups, methods of ascertainment, and case definitions. The prevalence of congenital cataract in developed countries is 1 to 3 per 10,000.

• #33 Congenital Cataract: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210837-overview

  The prevalence of congenital cataracts in the United States has been reported to be 1.2-6.0 cases per 10,000. […] The worldwide incidence of congenital cataracts is unknown and likely underestimated in underdeveloped countries. It has been reported that there are approximately 20,000-40,000 cases of children born with congenital or childhood cataracts per year. […] A 2020 review of the genetics of congenital cataracts found that genetic defects are responsible for approximately one fourth of congenital cataracts. Multiple mutations have been identified in upwards of 100 genes associated with congenital cataracts. […] Visual morbidity may result from deprivation amblyopia, refractive amblyopia, nystagmus, strabismus, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

• #34 Congenital Cataract: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210837-overview

  The prevalence of congenital cataracts in the United States has been reported to be 1.2-6.0 cases per 10,000. […] The worldwide incidence of congenital cataracts is unknown and likely underestimated in underdeveloped countries. It has been reported that there are approximately 20,000-40,000 cases of children born with congenital or childhood cataracts per year. […] A 2020 review of the genetics of congenital cataracts found that genetic defects are responsible for approximately one fourth of congenital cataracts. Multiple mutations have been identified in upwards of 100 genes associated with congenital cataracts. […] Visual morbidity may result from deprivation amblyopia, refractive amblyopia, nystagmus, strabismus, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

• #35 Congenital and Hereditary Cataracts: Epidemiology and Genetics | SpringerLink

  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-38938-3_1

  Lens opacities or cataracts in children are usually congenital and/or hereditary and less often are secondary to trauma, infections, or systemic disorders such as diabetes or galactosemia. […] Congenital cataracts cause approximately one-third of blindness in infants worldwide. […] Between 8% and 25% of congenital cataracts are inherited, and knowledge of their genetic architecture is increasing. […] Delineating the relationship between the genes and mutations causing cataracts and their phenotypic presentation can help us to understand the biology of the lens and provide a framework for the clinical approach to diagnosis and therapy. […] Cataracts (as well as corneal or vitreous opacities) in children must be diagnosed and treated early to prevent permanent vision loss due to amblyopia. […] Establishing a genetic cause of cataract can be helpful in establishing comorbidities, both ocular and systemic.

• #36 Congenital Cataract: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210837-overview

  The prevalence of congenital cataracts in the United States has been reported to be 1.2-6.0 cases per 10,000. […] The worldwide incidence of congenital cataracts is unknown and likely underestimated in underdeveloped countries. It has been reported that there are approximately 20,000-40,000 cases of children born with congenital or childhood cataracts per year. […] A 2020 review of the genetics of congenital cataracts found that genetic defects are responsible for approximately one fourth of congenital cataracts. Multiple mutations have been identified in upwards of 100 genes associated with congenital cataracts. […] Visual morbidity may result from deprivation amblyopia, refractive amblyopia, nystagmus, strabismus, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

• #37 Cataract – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539699/

  Prevalence and incidence: Many studies in 2010 reveal that cataracts are most common in the White American race, where prevalence ranges from 17 to 18% per 100 people. Blacks were the second-highest affected by cataracts, with a 13% prevalence rate, followed by Hispanics, with a prevalence rate of almost 12%.[27] […] Age: Onset is gradual and progressive, commonly in the older age group, typically in the fifth and sixth decade, though cases have been reported in children and the elderly as well.[28] […] Sex: Recent studies reveal that the disease is more common in women than men, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 to approximately 1.3.[29]

• #38 Cataract

  https://www.abdn.ac.uk/medical/elf/courses/view/171082/cataract/1/page12

  Cataract formation is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It accounts for 51% of the world blindness, roughly 20 million people as of 2010. Cataracts are more common in women than men. […] Reduction in smoking UV light exposure could delay cataract onset.

• #39 Epidemiology – GPnotebook

  https://gpnotebook.com/en-IE/pages/ophthalmology/posterior-subcapsular-cataract/epidemiology

  note that there is significant global regional variability, with the highest rates in South Asia. (2) […] cataracts are more common in women than men (2) […] in addition to age, risk factors for development of cataracts include gender, life style factors smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, steroid treatment, ultraviolet exposure, nutrition and socio-economic status, dehydration/diarrhoeal crises.

• #40 Global, regional, national burden and gender disparity of cataract: findings from the global burden of disease study 2019 | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14491-0

  Globally, older age, females, and lower socioeconomic status are associated with higher cataract burden. […] The findings of this study highlight the importance to make gender-sensitive health policies to manage global vision loss caused by cataracts, especially in low SDI regions. […] Gender inequality in the global burden of cataracts has persisted from 1990 to 2019 and has even gradually increased over the decades. […] The gender inequality observed in the South-East Asia region was greater than that in the other WHO regions, with the highest both age-standardized rates of DALY and prevalence. […] Gender inequality in the burden of cataracts had persisted since 1990, and the inequality remained with aging among different stages of vision impairments and regions with different levels of development.

• #41 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  The highest number of cataracts was observed in people aged 70-74 years. […] Females presented higher YLD rates for cataract attributable to high BMI than males across all ages. […] The current study indicated that the high BMI-related cataract burden was higher in people aged 70-74 years and was higher among females compared with males. […] The burden increased with age, and the population aged 70-74 years group had the highest YLD rate globally. […] The disease burden was particularly severe in females, in North Africa and the Middle East, and in low-middle SDI regions.

• #42 Global, regional, national burden and gender disparity of cataract: findings from the global burden of disease study 2019 | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14491-0

  Globally, older age, females, and lower socioeconomic status are associated with higher cataract burden. […] The findings of this study highlight the importance to make gender-sensitive health policies to manage global vision loss caused by cataracts, especially in low SDI regions. […] Gender inequality in the global burden of cataracts has persisted from 1990 to 2019 and has even gradually increased over the decades. […] The gender inequality observed in the South-East Asia region was greater than that in the other WHO regions, with the highest both age-standardized rates of DALY and prevalence. […] Gender inequality in the burden of cataracts had persisted since 1990, and the inequality remained with aging among different stages of vision impairments and regions with different levels of development.

• #43 Global, regional, national burden and gender disparity of cataract: findings from the global burden of disease study 2019 | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14491-0

  Globally, older age, females, and lower socioeconomic status are associated with higher cataract burden. […] The findings of this study highlight the importance to make gender-sensitive health policies to manage global vision loss caused by cataracts, especially in low SDI regions. […] Gender inequality in the global burden of cataracts has persisted from 1990 to 2019 and has even gradually increased over the decades. […] The gender inequality observed in the South-East Asia region was greater than that in the other WHO regions, with the highest both age-standardized rates of DALY and prevalence. […] Gender inequality in the burden of cataracts had persisted since 1990, and the inequality remained with aging among different stages of vision impairments and regions with different levels of development.

• #44 Cataract – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539699/

  Prevalence and incidence: Many studies in 2010 reveal that cataracts are most common in the White American race, where prevalence ranges from 17 to 18% per 100 people. Blacks were the second-highest affected by cataracts, with a 13% prevalence rate, followed by Hispanics, with a prevalence rate of almost 12%.[27] […] Age: Onset is gradual and progressive, commonly in the older age group, typically in the fifth and sixth decade, though cases have been reported in children and the elderly as well.[28] […] Sex: Recent studies reveal that the disease is more common in women than men, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 to approximately 1.3.[29]

• #45 Cataracts Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/cataracts

  Cataracts tend to run in families. […] In the United States, several prevalence studies have shown that cataracts are more likely to be a cause of vision impairment in blacks than in whites. This may be due to limited access to health care among non-white populations. […] Certain medical conditions and treatments increase the risk for cataracts: Diabetes (type 1 or type 2) poses a very high risk for cataracts and the likelihood of developing them at a younger age. […] Excessive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight increases the risk for cataracts. […] Cataract surgery improves vision in up to 95% of people and prevents millions of people from going blind. […] Cataract surgery is one of the safest of all surgical procedures. Most complications are not serious.

• #46 Causes of Cataracts | Ausmed

  https://www.ausmed.com/learn/articles/cataracts

  Cataracts are estimated to affect around 411,000 Australians (AIHW 2021). […] In Australia, cataracts are the second most common cause of bilateral vision impairment (Croakey Professional Services 2022) and cataract surgery is the most common elective surgical procedure (ACSQHC 2021). […] Cataracts are a significant issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, being 12 times more likely to affect First Nations people than non-First Nations Australians. Furthermore, First Nations people wait about 63% longer than non-First Nations Australians to receive cataract surgery (Vision 2020 Australia 2019). […] The Cataract Clinical Care Standard was released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in 2021. […] This standard aims to guide the assessment and care of patients over the age of 18 with cataracts in all healthcare settings (ACSQHC 2021).

• #47 Epidemiology and risk factors for cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye198782

  Cataract is the major cause of blindness worldwide. It is a greater problem in third world countries than in the West and several attempts have been made to explain the excess in these countries. This paper provides an overview of the literature especially on studies designed to identify risk factors for cataract. There is an association between poverty and cataract and, more specifically, between cataract and a history of severe diarrhoea-dehydration. Recent results from a case-control-led study of cataract in Oxford are also presented with the quantitation of risks associated with a number of factors including diarrhoea, renal failure and diabetes. […] In this study an apparently protective effect of aspirin, paracetamol and similar drugs was observed. This protective effect applies to the risk associated with diabetes. […] van Heyningen R and Harding JJ : Risk factors for cataract: diabetes, myopia and sex.

• #48 Global, regional, national burden and gender disparity of cataract: findings from the global burden of disease study 2019 | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14491-0

  Globally, older age, females, and lower socioeconomic status are associated with higher cataract burden. […] The findings of this study highlight the importance to make gender-sensitive health policies to manage global vision loss caused by cataracts, especially in low SDI regions. […] Gender inequality in the global burden of cataracts has persisted from 1990 to 2019 and has even gradually increased over the decades. […] The gender inequality observed in the South-East Asia region was greater than that in the other WHO regions, with the highest both age-standardized rates of DALY and prevalence. […] Gender inequality in the burden of cataracts had persisted since 1990, and the inequality remained with aging among different stages of vision impairments and regions with different levels of development.

• #49 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  Globally, there were 370.4 (95% UI: 163.2 to 689.3) YLDs due to cataract attributed to high BMI in 2019, more than triple the number in 1990. […] The ASR of YLD increased during 1990-2019, with AAPC of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.41 to 1.66). […] In 2019, the burden of cataract due to high BMI was higher in females and the elderly population. […] North Africa and the Middle East were the high-risk areas of cataract attributable to high BMI in 2019, with Saudi Arabia being the country with the heaviest burden. […] In terms of SDI, low-middle SDI regions had the greatest number of cataract-related YLDs due to high BMI in 2019. […] The global YLDs for cataract due to high BMI have shown a notable increase from 1990 to 2019. […] The YLD rate of cataract attributable to high BMI increased with age.

• #50 Global regional and national burden of cataract attributable to high body mass index from 1990 to 2019 | BMJ Open

  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e084058

  The highest number of cataracts was observed in people aged 70-74 years. […] Females presented higher YLD rates for cataract attributable to high BMI than males across all ages. […] The current study indicated that the high BMI-related cataract burden was higher in people aged 70-74 years and was higher among females compared with males. […] The burden increased with age, and the population aged 70-74 years group had the highest YLD rate globally. […] The disease burden was particularly severe in females, in North Africa and the Middle East, and in low-middle SDI regions.

• #51 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  A trend analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 data showed that the global burden of visual impairment due to cataracts exhibited a substantial increase, with the prevalence rate rising by 58.45% and the DALY rate increasing by 32.18% over the past 30 years. […] Our findings showed that over the last 3 decades, higher DALY rates were also associated with lower SDI, HDI, national PM2.5, and ambient UVR. […] We predicted that, due to population growth and aging, the DALYs due to cataracts for both sexes are expected to continue to increase over the next 15 years. […] Effective global policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of these risk factors could play a critical role in mitigating the impact of cataract and reduce its burden.

• #52 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #53 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #54 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #55 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #56 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #57 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #58 Case Definitions: Cataract | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/case-definitions/cataract.html

  VEHSS reports on the prevalence of cataract for the following categories based on these methods of identification: Examination-based cataract, self-reported cataract, and diagnosed cataract. […] The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes a self-report question on whether a doctor ever told the respondent that they had cataracts. […] VEHSS reports the annual prevalence of diagnosed cataract based on the presence of International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in patient claims or electronic health record (EHR) systems. […] Note that diagnosis codes in claims data are intended for billing purposes and may underestimate the true prevalence of cataracts. […] VEHSS defines the following summary subgroups indicating whether there is evidence that a patient with diagnosed cataract also had a diagnosis of previous cataract treatment. […] VEHSS separately includes annual prevalence of cataract treatment based on procedure codes. […] VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to provide information on vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States.

• #59 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  Low-cost small-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation is a proven clinical strategy. The socioeconomic effect of cataract surgery is substantial. […] The cataract prevalence is influenced by the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR or number of cataract surgeries performed per million people per year), which varies from less than 200 to over 6000 in different regions. […] So a high cataract prevalence rate in some developing countries is not for want of a clinical solution but partially due to ineffective implementation. […] To reduce cataract prevalence, the resource base (infrastructure, equipment, ophthalmologists, and other ophthalmic workers) must improve, as must management of the resources to build the right processes for maximal cost-effective resource utilization. Future solutions will have to address these challenges.

• #60 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  Low-cost small-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation is a proven clinical strategy. The socioeconomic effect of cataract surgery is substantial. […] The cataract prevalence is influenced by the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR or number of cataract surgeries performed per million people per year), which varies from less than 200 to over 6000 in different regions. […] So a high cataract prevalence rate in some developing countries is not for want of a clinical solution but partially due to ineffective implementation. […] To reduce cataract prevalence, the resource base (infrastructure, equipment, ophthalmologists, and other ophthalmic workers) must improve, as must management of the resources to build the right processes for maximal cost-effective resource utilization. Future solutions will have to address these challenges.

• #61 Epidemiology – GPnotebook

  https://gpnotebook.com/en-IE/pages/ophthalmology/posterior-subcapsular-cataract/epidemiology

  major cause of blindness worldwide. This may seem surprising, since it is eminently treatable by surgery, with a 95% success rate. However, psychological, social and economical factors prevent many patients from receiving treatment […] In the UK, cataract surgery remains the most frequently undertaken surgical procedure in the NHS. In the financial year ending 2022, there were over 409,000 admissions to hospital for cataract surgery in England, a rate of 3,803 (3,789 to 3,816) per 100,000 population. This number had risen above that seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (1) […] may occur at any age, but they are predominantly a condition of old age (2) […] prevalence increases with age: 16% in 65-69 years age group, 24% in 70-74 years age group, 42% in 75-79 years age group, 59% in 80-84 years age group, 71% in 85 years plus age group

• #62 Cataract – Treatment of Adults – Province of British Columbia

  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/bc-guidelines/cataract

  Between 1996-2001, the prevalence of low vision and blindness in all ages in B.C. was reported as 21.46/10,000 with cataract as the most common cause (29.9 %).3 […] In 2018/2019, 69,463 cataract surgeries were performed in B.C.4

• #63 Prevalence and management of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review | BMC Ophthalmology | Full Text

  https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-024-03701-5

  The effective management and treatment of cataracts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face several significant barriers. Lack of awareness is a common issue, as many individuals, particularly in rural areas, are not informed about cataracts or the available treatment options. Limited access to healthcare is another critical barrier, with scarce healthcare facilities and services, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Economic constraints are a pervasive issue, as the high cost of cataract surgery prevents many from seeking timely medical intervention. […] This scoping review reveals a significant prevalence of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ranging from 3.9% to 62.5% across different countries. Surgery remains the primary management strategy, but cataract surgical coverage varies widely, from 12.1% to 96%. The number of surgeries needed per million population ranges from 1800 in Rwanda to 4500 in Mali. Significant barriers to effective management include lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare facilities and services, economic constraints due to the high cost of surgery, gender disparities with females being more affected but less likely to undergo surgery, and fear and misconceptions about cataract surgery.

• #64

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: […] cataract […] In high income countries, diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are more common. […] Among this 1 billion people, the main conditions causing distance vision impairment or blindness are cataract (94 million) […] Spectacle correction for refractive error and surgery for cataract are among the most cost-effective of all health-care interventions. […] only 17% of people with vision impairment or blindness due to cataract have received access to quality surgery.

• #65 Epidemiology of age-related cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye1999119

  To investigate the aetiology of cataract, it is necessary to measure both the type and severity of lens opacities, as well as the dose and duration of exposure to the putative risk factor. […] Our current understanding of the aetiology of cataract shows that by far the greatest effect is seen with increasing age. […] However, exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, use of dietary antioxidant vitamins and the presence of diabetes, the occurrence of dehydration and severe diarrhoea and the use of therapeutic drugs such as steroids, and recreational drugs such as nicotine and alcohol, may be important risk factors. […] Until the results of the current studies of the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamin supplements become available, the only effective protective interventions to reduce the risk of cataract seem to be to reduce ocular exposure to UV-B radiation and to stop smoking.

• #66 Epidemiology of age-related cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye1999119

  To investigate the aetiology of cataract, it is necessary to measure both the type and severity of lens opacities, as well as the dose and duration of exposure to the putative risk factor. […] Our current understanding of the aetiology of cataract shows that by far the greatest effect is seen with increasing age. […] However, exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, use of dietary antioxidant vitamins and the presence of diabetes, the occurrence of dehydration and severe diarrhoea and the use of therapeutic drugs such as steroids, and recreational drugs such as nicotine and alcohol, may be important risk factors. […] Until the results of the current studies of the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamin supplements become available, the only effective protective interventions to reduce the risk of cataract seem to be to reduce ocular exposure to UV-B radiation and to stop smoking.

• #67 Epidemiology and risk factors for cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye198782

  Cataract is the major cause of blindness worldwide. It is a greater problem in third world countries than in the West and several attempts have been made to explain the excess in these countries. This paper provides an overview of the literature especially on studies designed to identify risk factors for cataract. There is an association between poverty and cataract and, more specifically, between cataract and a history of severe diarrhoea-dehydration. Recent results from a case-control-led study of cataract in Oxford are also presented with the quantitation of risks associated with a number of factors including diarrhoea, renal failure and diabetes. […] In this study an apparently protective effect of aspirin, paracetamol and similar drugs was observed. This protective effect applies to the risk associated with diabetes. […] van Heyningen R and Harding JJ : Risk factors for cataract: diabetes, myopia and sex.

• #68 Epidemiology and risk factors for cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye198782

  Cataract is the major cause of blindness worldwide. It is a greater problem in third world countries than in the West and several attempts have been made to explain the excess in these countries. This paper provides an overview of the literature especially on studies designed to identify risk factors for cataract. There is an association between poverty and cataract and, more specifically, between cataract and a history of severe diarrhoea-dehydration. Recent results from a case-control-led study of cataract in Oxford are also presented with the quantitation of risks associated with a number of factors including diarrhoea, renal failure and diabetes. […] In this study an apparently protective effect of aspirin, paracetamol and similar drugs was observed. This protective effect applies to the risk associated with diabetes. […] van Heyningen R and Harding JJ : Risk factors for cataract: diabetes, myopia and sex.

• #69 Cataracts Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/cataracts

  Cataracts tend to run in families. […] In the United States, several prevalence studies have shown that cataracts are more likely to be a cause of vision impairment in blacks than in whites. This may be due to limited access to health care among non-white populations. […] Certain medical conditions and treatments increase the risk for cataracts: Diabetes (type 1 or type 2) poses a very high risk for cataracts and the likelihood of developing them at a younger age. […] Excessive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight increases the risk for cataracts. […] Cataract surgery improves vision in up to 95% of people and prevents millions of people from going blind. […] Cataract surgery is one of the safest of all surgical procedures. Most complications are not serious.

• #70 Cataract and Cataract Surgical Coverage | 12 | Ophthalmic Epidemiology

  https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781315146737-12/cataract-cataract-surgical-coverage-olusola-olawoye-priya-adhisesha-reddy-ving-fai-chan-prabhath-piyasena-nathan-congdon

  Cataracts can be secondary to ocular or systemic diseases, such as diabetes, which causes a two- to five-fold increased risk of developing lens opacity. […] Older age is associated with increasing prevalence of nuclear and cortical cataracts.

• #71 Cataracts Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/cataracts

  Cataracts tend to run in families. […] In the United States, several prevalence studies have shown that cataracts are more likely to be a cause of vision impairment in blacks than in whites. This may be due to limited access to health care among non-white populations. […] Certain medical conditions and treatments increase the risk for cataracts: Diabetes (type 1 or type 2) poses a very high risk for cataracts and the likelihood of developing them at a younger age. […] Excessive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight increases the risk for cataracts. […] Cataract surgery improves vision in up to 95% of people and prevents millions of people from going blind. […] Cataract surgery is one of the safest of all surgical procedures. Most complications are not serious.

• #72 How climate change is damaging our vision | Knowable Magazine

  https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/how-climate-change-threatens-eye-health

  One 2023 study of nearly 60,000 people in rmqi, in northwestern China, found that temperatures exceeding 28.7C just 83F increased the risk of conjunctivitis by roughly 16 percent compared to daily temperatures around 10.7C, or 51F. […] Reducing greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals, which increase UV exposure, are key to protecting eye health at a global level.

• #73 How climate change is damaging our vision | Knowable Magazine

  https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/how-climate-change-threatens-eye-health

  Cataracts, pink eye and other ocular disorders are linked to heat, air pollution and higher UV exposure. […] A number of well-known factors, including exposure to UV radiation, genetics and aging can lead to cataracts, a condition affecting roughly 94 million people in which the lenses of the eyes get cloudy, causing blurry vision. But in recent years, researchers have found another causative factor for cataracts and other eye disorders: climate change. […] Climate change is increasing risk to eye health in multiple ways. […] Since the lens cant regenerate the proteins, the more time one spends in the heat, the greater the risk of developing cataracts. […] Cataracts are one of the most common causes of vision impairment worldwide. But climate change is also causing an uptick in other eye conditions.

• #74 Systemic medications and cortical cataract: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study | British Journal of Ophthalmology

  https://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/3/330

  To evaluate the association between systemic medications and cortical cataract prevalence in an Asian population. […] The Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study recruited 10033 Chinese, Malay and Indian residents aged 40+ years living in Singapore. […] Associations between medications and the presence of cortical cataract were assessed using logistic regression. […] A total of 8965 participants were included, the mean age was 57.6 (SD=9.8) years, and 4555 (50.8%) were women. […] After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, socioeconomic status, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, duration of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, ACE inhibitors (OR=1.27; 95%CI 1.05 to 1.55), fibrates (OR=1.57; 95%CI 1.05 to 2.35), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) (OR=1.85; 95%CI 1.13 to 3.02) and insulin (OR=1.80; 95%CI 1.11 to 2.93) were significantly associated with the presence of cortical cataract. […] ACE inhibitors, fibrates and AGIs were associated with increased prevalence of cortical cataract in this Asian population, independent of the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, respectively.

• #75 Systemic medications and cortical cataract: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study | British Journal of Ophthalmology

  https://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/3/330

  To evaluate the association between systemic medications and cortical cataract prevalence in an Asian population. […] The Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study recruited 10033 Chinese, Malay and Indian residents aged 40+ years living in Singapore. […] Associations between medications and the presence of cortical cataract were assessed using logistic regression. […] A total of 8965 participants were included, the mean age was 57.6 (SD=9.8) years, and 4555 (50.8%) were women. […] After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, socioeconomic status, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, duration of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, ACE inhibitors (OR=1.27; 95%CI 1.05 to 1.55), fibrates (OR=1.57; 95%CI 1.05 to 2.35), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) (OR=1.85; 95%CI 1.13 to 3.02) and insulin (OR=1.80; 95%CI 1.11 to 2.93) were significantly associated with the presence of cortical cataract. […] ACE inhibitors, fibrates and AGIs were associated with increased prevalence of cortical cataract in this Asian population, independent of the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, respectively.

• #76 Systemic medications and cortical cataract: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study | British Journal of Ophthalmology

  https://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/3/330

  To evaluate the association between systemic medications and cortical cataract prevalence in an Asian population. […] The Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study recruited 10033 Chinese, Malay and Indian residents aged 40+ years living in Singapore. […] Associations between medications and the presence of cortical cataract were assessed using logistic regression. […] A total of 8965 participants were included, the mean age was 57.6 (SD=9.8) years, and 4555 (50.8%) were women. […] After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, socioeconomic status, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, duration of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, ACE inhibitors (OR=1.27; 95%CI 1.05 to 1.55), fibrates (OR=1.57; 95%CI 1.05 to 2.35), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) (OR=1.85; 95%CI 1.13 to 3.02) and insulin (OR=1.80; 95%CI 1.11 to 2.93) were significantly associated with the presence of cortical cataract. […] ACE inhibitors, fibrates and AGIs were associated with increased prevalence of cortical cataract in this Asian population, independent of the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, respectively.

• #77 Cataracts Concern Battle Fighters, the Aging | Health.mil

  https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2021/06/21/Cataracts-Concern-Battle-Fighters-the-Aging?page=37

  Developing a cataract of the eye is usually thought of as something to worry about as one ages, when an opacity, or cloudiness, of the lens develops over time. But a cataract can also happen suddenly, as a result of direct force trauma on the battlefield, or exposure to gasses, chemicals, or new weaponry in war zones. […] „In case of traumatic cataract, it can be from direct and indirect trauma to the eye,” explained Dr. Mariia Viswanathan, an ophthalmologist and the chief of Education, Training, Research, and Surveillance at the Clinical Care and Integration branch of the Defense Health Agency’s Vision Center of Excellence (VCE). „It’s damaging the protein, and so the loss of transparency. It can be force trauma, it can be chemical trauma, it can be ionization. Different types of weapons can cause traumatic cataract. It’s a very complex process.”

• #78 Cataracts Concern Battle Fighters, the Aging | Health.mil

  https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2021/06/21/Cataracts-Concern-Battle-Fighters-the-Aging?page=37

  Developing a cataract of the eye is usually thought of as something to worry about as one ages, when an opacity, or cloudiness, of the lens develops over time. But a cataract can also happen suddenly, as a result of direct force trauma on the battlefield, or exposure to gasses, chemicals, or new weaponry in war zones. […] „In case of traumatic cataract, it can be from direct and indirect trauma to the eye,” explained Dr. Mariia Viswanathan, an ophthalmologist and the chief of Education, Training, Research, and Surveillance at the Clinical Care and Integration branch of the Defense Health Agency’s Vision Center of Excellence (VCE). „It’s damaging the protein, and so the loss of transparency. It can be force trauma, it can be chemical trauma, it can be ionization. Different types of weapons can cause traumatic cataract. It’s a very complex process.”

• #79 Cataracts Concern Battle Fighters, the Aging | Health.mil

  https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2021/06/21/Cataracts-Concern-Battle-Fighters-the-Aging?page=37

  Traumatic cataracts in service members can occur immediately after an eye injury, months, or even years later. They can also be the result of non-battlefield situations, the VCE says. […] Throughout the 20th century, the incidence of eye injuries among war fighters increased with each major armed conflict, the VCE says. As recently as 2008, 13% of combat casualties requiring evacuation were reported to have sustained ocular injuries. […] Viswanathan said that cases of traumatic cataracts have leveled off in recent times, depending on the conflicts U.S. service members have been involved in because advances in eye protection have been accompanied by advances in armaments deployed by the enemy. […] Non-traumatic cataracts most commonly affect people over 40. […] The bottom line? Non-traumatic cataracts are often avoidable by the use of eye protection and a healthy lifestyle.

• #80 Cataracts Concern Battle Fighters, the Aging | Health.mil

  https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2021/06/21/Cataracts-Concern-Battle-Fighters-the-Aging?page=37

  Traumatic cataracts in service members can occur immediately after an eye injury, months, or even years later. They can also be the result of non-battlefield situations, the VCE says. […] Throughout the 20th century, the incidence of eye injuries among war fighters increased with each major armed conflict, the VCE says. As recently as 2008, 13% of combat casualties requiring evacuation were reported to have sustained ocular injuries. […] Viswanathan said that cases of traumatic cataracts have leveled off in recent times, depending on the conflicts U.S. service members have been involved in because advances in eye protection have been accompanied by advances in armaments deployed by the enemy. […] Non-traumatic cataracts most commonly affect people over 40. […] The bottom line? Non-traumatic cataracts are often avoidable by the use of eye protection and a healthy lifestyle.

• #81 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. […] Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually. […] In the eastern Mediterranean region, cataracts are responsible for over 51% of blindness. […] Childhood-related cataracts are responsible for 520% of world childhood blindness. […] Vision loss due to cataracts increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population, increases the likelihood of falls and road traffic accidents, and by detrimental effects on the quality of life increases mortality.

• #82 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  Low-cost small-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation is a proven clinical strategy. The socioeconomic effect of cataract surgery is substantial. […] The cataract prevalence is influenced by the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR or number of cataract surgeries performed per million people per year), which varies from less than 200 to over 6000 in different regions. […] So a high cataract prevalence rate in some developing countries is not for want of a clinical solution but partially due to ineffective implementation. […] To reduce cataract prevalence, the resource base (infrastructure, equipment, ophthalmologists, and other ophthalmic workers) must improve, as must management of the resources to build the right processes for maximal cost-effective resource utilization. Future solutions will have to address these challenges.

• #83 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. […] Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually. […] In the eastern Mediterranean region, cataracts are responsible for over 51% of blindness. […] Childhood-related cataracts are responsible for 520% of world childhood blindness. […] Vision loss due to cataracts increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population, increases the likelihood of falls and road traffic accidents, and by detrimental effects on the quality of life increases mortality.

• #84 Senile Cataract (Age-Related Cataract): Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210914-overview

  Although the risk of dying as a result of cataract extraction is almost negligible, studies have shown an increased risk of mortality in patients who underwent surgery. […] These data imply an association between senile cataracts and increased mortality. […] Age is an important risk factor for senile cataract. As a person ages, the chance of developing a senile cataract increases. […] In the absence of any other accompanying ocular disease prior to surgery that would affect significantly the visual outcome (eg macular degeneration or optic nerve atrophy), a successful uncomplicated standard ECCE or phacoemulsification carries a very promising visual prognosis of gaining at least 2 lines in the Snellen distance vision chart. […] Education programs are geared toward early detection and surgical intervention when vision is impaired functionally.

• #85 Prevalence and management of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review | BMC Ophthalmology | Full Text

  https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-024-03701-5

  The effective management and treatment of cataracts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face several significant barriers. Lack of awareness is a common issue, as many individuals, particularly in rural areas, are not informed about cataracts or the available treatment options. Limited access to healthcare is another critical barrier, with scarce healthcare facilities and services, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Economic constraints are a pervasive issue, as the high cost of cataract surgery prevents many from seeking timely medical intervention. […] This scoping review reveals a significant prevalence of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ranging from 3.9% to 62.5% across different countries. Surgery remains the primary management strategy, but cataract surgical coverage varies widely, from 12.1% to 96%. The number of surgeries needed per million population ranges from 1800 in Rwanda to 4500 in Mali. Significant barriers to effective management include lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare facilities and services, economic constraints due to the high cost of surgery, gender disparities with females being more affected but less likely to undergo surgery, and fear and misconceptions about cataract surgery.

• #86 Prevalence and management of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review | BMC Ophthalmology | Full Text

  https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-024-03701-5

  The effective management and treatment of cataracts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face several significant barriers. Lack of awareness is a common issue, as many individuals, particularly in rural areas, are not informed about cataracts or the available treatment options. Limited access to healthcare is another critical barrier, with scarce healthcare facilities and services, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Economic constraints are a pervasive issue, as the high cost of cataract surgery prevents many from seeking timely medical intervention. […] This scoping review reveals a significant prevalence of cataracts among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ranging from 3.9% to 62.5% across different countries. Surgery remains the primary management strategy, but cataract surgical coverage varies widely, from 12.1% to 96%. The number of surgeries needed per million population ranges from 1800 in Rwanda to 4500 in Mali. Significant barriers to effective management include lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare facilities and services, economic constraints due to the high cost of surgery, gender disparities with females being more affected but less likely to undergo surgery, and fear and misconceptions about cataract surgery.

• #87 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  Age-related cataracts are responsible for 51% of world blindness, about 20 million people. […] Globally, cataracts cause moderate to severe disability in 53.8 million (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. […] Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent as a result of long waits for, and barriers to, surgery, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems. […] In the United States, age-related lens changes have been reported in 42% between the ages of 52 and 64, 60% between the ages 65 and 74, and 91% between the ages of 75 and 85. […] Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.

• #88 Cataract – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract

  Age-related cataracts are responsible for 51% of world blindness, about 20 million people. […] Globally, cataracts cause moderate to severe disability in 53.8 million (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. […] Even where surgical services are available, low vision associated with cataracts may still be prevalent as a result of long waits for, and barriers to, surgery, such as cost, lack of information and transportation problems. […] In the United States, age-related lens changes have been reported in 42% between the ages of 52 and 64, 60% between the ages 65 and 74, and 91% between the ages of 75 and 85. […] Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.

• #89 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  A trend analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 data showed that the global burden of visual impairment due to cataracts exhibited a substantial increase, with the prevalence rate rising by 58.45% and the DALY rate increasing by 32.18% over the past 30 years. […] Our findings showed that over the last 3 decades, higher DALY rates were also associated with lower SDI, HDI, national PM2.5, and ambient UVR. […] We predicted that, due to population growth and aging, the DALYs due to cataracts for both sexes are expected to continue to increase over the next 15 years. […] Effective global policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of these risk factors could play a critical role in mitigating the impact of cataract and reduce its burden.

• #90 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  Cataracts now account for the largest proportion of the global burden of blindness and vision loss. Understanding the changing trends in the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years and the next 15 years is of clear significance for the prevention and control of cataracts in key populations. […] This study aims to assess the global burden of cataracts over the past 30 years by using age-period-cohort modeling and to estimate trends in the next 15 years. […] Globally, the number of DALYs due to cataract increased from 3,492,604 in 1990 to 6,676,281 in 2019. […] While the ASDR of cataracts has decreased, there has been a notable increase in the number of DALYs over the past 30 years. Projections suggest that the global burden of cataracts will continue to rise over the next 15 years.

• #91 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  The prevalence, distribution, strategies to reduce the cataract prevalence and the disordered physiological processes, causes, and different forms of cataract are discussed. […] In 2010 the Vision Loss Expert Group funded by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Fight for Sight, and others calculated that cataracts caused blindness (visual acuity in the better eye of less than 3/60) in 10.6 million people and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI, visual acuity of between 6/18 and 3/60) in 34.4 million people. However, wide regional variations exist in the prevalence of cataracts. […] The worlds population is increasing (predominantly in developing countries), and people will live to greater ages. So without accessible, efficient cataract surgery, the prevalence will increase. Developing countries bear an increasing burden for cataract blindness because cataracts occur earlier in life, and the incidence is higher.

• #92 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Cataract-Epidemiology.aspx

  Cataracts are very common, but are more likely to develop in older individuals. In the UK alone, age-related cataracts are thought to affect around half of those aged over 65 years to some degree, with this figure rising to 70% in those aged over 85. […] Australian studies have shown that the prevalence of cataract doubles with each decade of age after 40 years and that nearly everyone aged 90 years or older is affected by cataracts. Other developed countries show similar incidence and prevalence of cataract. […] Estimates predict that, currently, cataracts affect around 22 million adults aged 40 or older and that by the year 2020, this number will have approximately doubled. […] Cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision globally and particularly affect populations in developing countries, where they often cause blindness. […] It has been estimated that cases of cataracts will continue to rise predominantly in developing countries where population increases will be the greatest. As the number of individuals aged over 65 years continues to increase, so will the incidence of cataract and the need for cataract surgery.

• #93 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Cataract-Epidemiology.aspx

  Cataracts are very common, but are more likely to develop in older individuals. In the UK alone, age-related cataracts are thought to affect around half of those aged over 65 years to some degree, with this figure rising to 70% in those aged over 85. […] Australian studies have shown that the prevalence of cataract doubles with each decade of age after 40 years and that nearly everyone aged 90 years or older is affected by cataracts. Other developed countries show similar incidence and prevalence of cataract. […] Estimates predict that, currently, cataracts affect around 22 million adults aged 40 or older and that by the year 2020, this number will have approximately doubled. […] Cataracts are the most common cause of impaired vision globally and particularly affect populations in developing countries, where they often cause blindness. […] It has been estimated that cases of cataracts will continue to rise predominantly in developing countries where population increases will be the greatest. As the number of individuals aged over 65 years continues to increase, so will the incidence of cataract and the need for cataract surgery.

• #94 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  Low-cost small-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation is a proven clinical strategy. The socioeconomic effect of cataract surgery is substantial. […] The cataract prevalence is influenced by the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR or number of cataract surgeries performed per million people per year), which varies from less than 200 to over 6000 in different regions. […] So a high cataract prevalence rate in some developing countries is not for want of a clinical solution but partially due to ineffective implementation. […] To reduce cataract prevalence, the resource base (infrastructure, equipment, ophthalmologists, and other ophthalmic workers) must improve, as must management of the resources to build the right processes for maximal cost-effective resource utilization. Future solutions will have to address these challenges.

• #95 WHO EMRO | Cataract | Health topics

  https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/cataract/

  Cataract is responsible for over 51% of blindness in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. […] Although cataract can be easily surgically operated, in many countries access to eye care is limited. […] As people in the world live longer, the number of people with cataract is anticipated to grow. […] The WHO prevention of blindness programme provides technical support to Member States in the development of comprehensive eye care systems to address the burden of cataract.

• #96 JMIR Public Health and Surveillance – Changing Trends in the Global Burden of Cataract Over the Past 30 Years: Retrospective Data Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

  https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e47349

  A trend analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 data showed that the global burden of visual impairment due to cataracts exhibited a substantial increase, with the prevalence rate rising by 58.45% and the DALY rate increasing by 32.18% over the past 30 years. […] Our findings showed that over the last 3 decades, higher DALY rates were also associated with lower SDI, HDI, national PM2.5, and ambient UVR. […] We predicted that, due to population growth and aging, the DALYs due to cataracts for both sexes are expected to continue to increase over the next 15 years. […] Effective global policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of these risk factors could play a critical role in mitigating the impact of cataract and reduce its burden.

• #97

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: […] cataract […] In high income countries, diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are more common. […] Among this 1 billion people, the main conditions causing distance vision impairment or blindness are cataract (94 million) […] Spectacle correction for refractive error and surgery for cataract are among the most cost-effective of all health-care interventions. […] only 17% of people with vision impairment or blindness due to cataract have received access to quality surgery.

• #98 Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Causes, Morphology, and Visual Effects of Cataract | Ento Key

  https://entokey.com/epidemiology-pathophysiology-causes-morphology-and-visual-effects-of-cataract/

  Low-cost small-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation is a proven clinical strategy. The socioeconomic effect of cataract surgery is substantial. […] The cataract prevalence is influenced by the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR or number of cataract surgeries performed per million people per year), which varies from less than 200 to over 6000 in different regions. […] So a high cataract prevalence rate in some developing countries is not for want of a clinical solution but partially due to ineffective implementation. […] To reduce cataract prevalence, the resource base (infrastructure, equipment, ophthalmologists, and other ophthalmic workers) must improve, as must management of the resources to build the right processes for maximal cost-effective resource utilization. Future solutions will have to address these challenges.

• #99 Epidemiology of age-related cataract | Eye

  https://www.nature.com/articles/eye1999119

  To investigate the aetiology of cataract, it is necessary to measure both the type and severity of lens opacities, as well as the dose and duration of exposure to the putative risk factor. […] Our current understanding of the aetiology of cataract shows that by far the greatest effect is seen with increasing age. […] However, exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, use of dietary antioxidant vitamins and the presence of diabetes, the occurrence of dehydration and severe diarrhoea and the use of therapeutic drugs such as steroids, and recreational drugs such as nicotine and alcohol, may be important risk factors. […] Until the results of the current studies of the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamin supplements become available, the only effective protective interventions to reduce the risk of cataract seem to be to reduce ocular exposure to UV-B radiation and to stop smoking.

• #100 How climate change is damaging our vision | Knowable Magazine

  https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/how-climate-change-threatens-eye-health

  One 2023 study of nearly 60,000 people in rmqi, in northwestern China, found that temperatures exceeding 28.7C just 83F increased the risk of conjunctivitis by roughly 16 percent compared to daily temperatures around 10.7C, or 51F. […] Reducing greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals, which increase UV exposure, are key to protecting eye health at a global level.

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