In just 17 years, the number of American with cataracts will exploded 50 percent to 38.5 million by 2032 and by 78 percent to 45.6 million by the year 2050. That's thte conclusion of Prevent Blindness “Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems." Currently 25.7 million Americans older than 40 have cataracts. It also found most current cataract patients are women and that trend will continue. Whites will continue to make up a majority of cataract patients, but this population will level off and slightly decrease by the 2040’s. Hispanics will exhibit the fastest rate of growth in cataract cases.
Prevent Blindness has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month to educate the public on cataract, risk factors, symptoms and treatment options, including surgery. Free information is provided through its dedicated web page at preventblindness.org/cataract, or via phone at (800) 331-2020.
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