Cataract Surgery at 40: Too Early or Just Right?

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts in your late 30s or early 40s, you’re probably concerned about treatment—and understandably so. While cataracts are extremely common, they are most usually diagnosed in your 60s and beyond. 

But this certainly isn’t a hard and fast rule. So-called “early-onset cataracts” (those that appear earlier in life) can occur at any age. There are various reasons for this, and the severity and rate of progression will determine the optimal time for surgery. 

How Old Should I Be for Cataract Surgery (and other early onset FAQs)?

• Why do some people get cataracts in their 30s, 40s, and 50s?
• How old should I be for cataract surgery?
• If I have a cataract operation in my 40s, will it come back later in life?

Why do some people get cataracts in their 30s, 40s, and 50s?

There are many causes of early-onset cataracts. These include:

• Traumatic cataracts: These form after some kind of injury to the eye.
• Certain medical conditions: Diseases, such as diabetes and other metabolic conditions, can increase the predisposition for early cataract formation.
• Long-term use of some medications: The use of certain drugs can raise the risk of cataracts. These include steroids, some tranquilizers, certain diuretics, and some medications that are used to control mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia.
• Excessive exposure to UV light: This is why everyone needs to protect their eyes. Wearing good quality sunglasses and a hat that shades the eyes from direct sunlight is important. Welders should also use appropriate eye protection.
• Lifestyle choices: Smoking and excessive alcohol are the main culprits. A poor diet can also increase the risk of developing cataracts earlier in life.

How old should I be for cataract surgery?

There is no hard and fast rule for this. While the majority of people will be older than 60, the best time for cataract surgery is when the cataract/s has evolved enough to significantly affect your vision.

If this happens to be when you’re in your 40s, then so be it. Your ophthalmologist will advise when the cataract is “ripe” for surgery. It’s a highly successful procedure, whatever your age, with a relatively short recovery period (around 6-8 weeks).

If I have a cataract operation in my 40s, will it come back later in life?

In short, no. Once a cataract is removed, it can’t return. This is because the whole diseased lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one—called an intraocular lens (IOL).

You might hear the somewhat inaccurate term, secondary cataract. This is where cataract symptoms, including colors becoming muted and yellowed, distorted or blurred vision, difficulty seeing in low light, or seeing halos around lights, begin to reoccur. This is a common condition known as posterior capsule opacification (PCO). It’s not a new cataract. Instead, it’s when proteins within the eye begin to clump together on the capsule that the lens is attached to.

It's easily treated by what’s known as YAG laser. This is performed in the eye doctor’s office and takes around 5 minutes. It’s a one-off procedure and will permanently remove the symptoms.

The WBEC Specializes in Treating Early Onset and Other Complex Cataracts

The West Boca Eye Center offers the ultimate clinical expertise for everything and anything cataract-related. This means diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. The only answer to, “How old should I be for cataract surgery?”, is—quite simply—when the cataract is sufficiently advanced to be impacting your vision.

No matter what your age and/or any other complexities or medical conditions, we lead the way in cutting-edge cataract treatment.

Head to https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ for further information and call today to speak to the team.