Recently diagnosed with cataracts

I am 49 and at my last eye appt. the dr. said I have cataracts.  To me this seem very young to have cataracts.  I worry because i know cataracts cannot be removed to they are pretty bad and your vision is pretty bad before they can take them off.  I work as an insurance agent and I need good vision to write policies.  Has anyone else had this problem?  could it be due to something elese?  I do have new mild diabetes, diet controlled,

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Not true. Cataracts are taken off when they are causing a big problem for the person that have them. Relatively small cataracts are often removed from people that work as truckdrivers, pilots, surgeons and others that need good vision to make a living.

Rick factors for young cataracts: smoking, heavy drinking, obesity, diabetes, drugs like steroids, injury to the eye, positive family history.

JCH MD