Understanding cataracts during Cataract Awareness Month
June is Cataract Awareness Month.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. This is why it is important to remain up to date on eye screenings and preventative care, as cataracts are often easier to treat early in the process.
Hongli Wu, Ph.D., associate director of graduate education and research, and professor, pharmaceutical sciences at UNT Health, and NTERI faculty, has conducted research on cataracts. We recently sat down with Dr. Wu to learn more about cataracts, the treatment options currently available, and advancements in treatment on the horizon.
Many people associate cataracts with aging. How common are cataracts, and at what
point should someone start paying attention to their eye health?
Cataracts are one of the most common age-related eye conditions. About half of adults
develop cataracts by age 65–74, and most people will experience them if they live
long enough. Because the changes begin years before symptoms appear, it is wise to
start paying attention to eye health and getting regular eye exams starting in your
40s.
What are some of the earliest signs of cataracts that people often overlook or mistake for normal changes in vision?
Early cataracts are often mistaken for normal aging because the changes happen gradually. Common early signs include slightly blurry or cloudy vision, increased glare from headlights or bright lights, needing brighter light to read, faded or yellowed colors, and frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. Many people simply assume they need stronger glasses, when these subtle changes may actually be the first signs of cataract development.
Are there lifestyle choices or environmental factors that can increase a person's risk of developing cataracts? Are there steps people can take to help protect their vision?
While aging is the biggest risk factor for cataracts, certain lifestyle and environmental factors can increase the risk or accelerate their development. These include smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, excessive UV (sunlight) exposure, chronic eye inflammation such as uveitis, long-term steroid use, and eye injuries. Smoking and UV exposure are particularly important because they increase oxidative stress, which damages lens proteins over time.
The good news is that people can take steps to help protect their vision by not smoking, wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, managing diabetes and overall health, seeking prompt treatment for eye inflammation, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and having regular eye exams, especially after age 40. While these measures cannot completely prevent cataracts, they may help delay their onset and progression.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures in the world. What advances in cataract research or treatment are you most excited about right now?
What excites me most is the growing focus on preventing cataracts rather than simply treating them with surgery. Researchers are gaining new insights into how oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and aging drive cataract formation, which may lead to therapies that slow or delay the disease.
On the surgical side, advances in intraocular lens (IOL) design are improving visual outcomes and reducing complications such as posterior capsule opacification (PCO), the most common long-term complication after cataract surgery. Together, these developments are moving the field toward more personalized and long-lasting solutions for preserving vision.
There's a lot of information online about eye health. What are some of the biggest misconceptions you encounter when people talk about cataracts?
One common misconception is that cataracts are a film growing over the eye, when they are actually a cloudiness of the eye’s natural lens. Another is that cataracts only affect older adults, even though they can occur at any age—including babies who are born with congenital cataracts—and can also develop earlier due to diabetes, uveitis, injury, or steroid use. Many people also believe vision loss from cataracts is something they must live with, but modern cataract surgery is highly safe and effective.
From a research perspective, what questions about cataracts are scientists still trying to answer, and where do you see the field heading in the next decade?
From a research perspective, scientists are still trying to understand exactly why aging causes the lens to lose its transparency. Over the next decade, the field is likely to move beyond cataract surgery alone toward developing therapies that can slow, prevent, or even reverse early cataract progression by targeting the underlying biological mechanisms of lens aging.
As we recognize Cataract Awareness Month, what's the one message you would most like the public to understand about cataracts and preserving healthy vision?
As we recognize Cataract Awareness Month, my message is simple: cataracts are common, but vision loss from cataracts is largely preventable and treatable. By protecting your eyes from UV exposure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and having regular eye exams—especially after age 40—you can help preserve your vision and detect problems early, before they significantly affect your quality of life.