---
url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/cataracts'
title: Cataracts
author:
  name: 'Laura Banks'
  url: 'https://www.healthinaging.org/user/98'
date: '2018-11-09T20:56:16+00:00'
updated: '2023-06-01T15:19:09+00:00'
type: topic
summary: 'Cataracts are a common result of aging and occur frequently in older people. About one in five adults over the age of 65 has a cataract. If you are in your mid-seventies to eighties, you have a 50% chance of developing one. Approximately 1.5 million cataract operations are performed every year in the US.'
tags:
  - Health
published: true
---
 Cataracts block vision by clouding and darkening the eye’s lens. About 20 percent of people 65 and older people have a cataract. About half of people 75 and older have cataracts.



 



 

 [Basic Facts

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/basic-facts) 

 

 [Causes

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/causes) 

 

 [Symptoms

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/symptoms) 

 

 [Diagnosis & Tests

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/tests) 

 

 [Care & Treatment

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/care-treatment) 

 

 [Lifestyle & Management

 ](/a-z-topic/cataracts/lifestyle)