Cataract hitting your eye at the age of 45! Check out!

The age of onset of cataract among Indians may have dipped by almost a decade. Cataract — clouding of the eye’s lens and the main cause of blindness — earlier affecting those above 60 years, is being increasingly seen among those in their mid-40s.

According to Dr Mahipal Sachdev, chairman of Centre for Sight, the age of onset of cataract among Indians is 45 years as against 55 years among Westerners. 

“It could be due to overall poor nutrition levels, excessive exposure to UV light, increased diorrhoea and dehydration episodes,” Dr Sachdev said. 

Besides, in case there is a family history of early cataract, the children would get it five years earlier than their parents, he said. 

India is home to 12 million blind people of which 70% cases are due to cataract. About five million cataract surgeries are performed in the country annually, highest in the world. 

Officials say 75% of blindness cases are those of avoidable blindness. Fortunately, cataract surgery is set to become more accurate with the use of femtosecond laser, which, experts say, allows extreme precision in surgery. 

EYE OPENER India has 12m blind people, 70% cases due to cataract 

12L cataract surgeries conducted in India in 2010 

Health ministry says 75% blindness cases avoidable 

Latest femtosecond laser surgeries accurate in 100% of cases