The longer you live the greater your chance of developing a cataract. Fifty percent of the people between the ages of 52 and 64, and most people age 75 and older have cataracts. However, that does not necessarily mean that cataracts must always be removed. That depends upon how much they interfere with your daily life. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred and poor vision, difficulty watching television or reading, problems recognizing people even when they are close to you, and difficulty seeing objects in bright lights.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
It is an outpatient procedure and the incision in the eye is only about an eighth of an inch. Complications are rare but they do occur including detachment of the retina and glaucoma. In many patients the biggest decision is whether or not surgery is actually needed.