A cataract is a painless clouding of the eye’s lens, obstructing the passage of light to the retina. The retina’s nerve cells detect light and transmit signals to the brain, enabling vision. Cataracts, by impeding light transmission, can lead to vision issues. They are the primary cause of blindness globally and the foremost cause of vision impairment in the United States.
Around 20.5 million Americans, accounting for 17.2 percent of those aged 40 years and older, are estimated to have cataracts in one or both eyes. Additionally, 6.1 million people, constituting 5.1 percent, have undergone surgical removal of their lenses. By the age of 75, around half of Americans develop cataracts.
