Fact Sheet:
Incidence and Prevalence of Cataracts and Cataract
Surgery
- Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the number one cause of poor vision in the U.S.1
- Cataracts are extremely common; more than half of Americans age 65 and older have a cataract, and it is thought that nearly everyone will develop one if they live long enough.2
- The total number of persons who will have cataracts is estimated to rise to over 30 million by 2020.3
- In over 90 percent of cases, cataracts are caused by the aging process.4
- Women have a significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of cataract than men in the United States.5
- Each year, nearly three million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States.6
1
Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia
Among Adults in the United States. Archives of
Ophthalmology: April 2004.
2
Eye Disease Information and Resources:
Cataract Fact Sheet. Women's Eye Health Task Force:
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc; 2003.
3
Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia
Among Adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology:
April 2004.
4 Lang GK. Ophthalmology. New York. NY: Thieme
New York; 2000.
5
Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia Among Adults in
the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology: April 2004.
6 Market Scope
