are cataracts normal

[mysea]

Are cataracts normal in all individuals? I'm 43 yrs old I woke up one morning and had cloudy, foggy vision in my left eye. My optometrist has of 12 years has never informed me I had cataracts. He says cataracts are as normal as wrinkles. I guess for someone older. My opthomalogist says it's rare to have this kind of cataract at my age. 2 % of the population. I've worn glasses for nearsightedness for 20 years. 2 yrs ago I had timponaplasty and extosis surgery. I have had tinnitus for years. I'm wondering what other things could cause this overnite. I had no eye trauma or exposure to toxic substances. I'm not diabetic.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I suspect it did not happen overnight, but rather gradually over the past few years.  Genetics might play a major role.  Excessive sunlight, unhealthy lifestyle with smoking, poor nutrition, lot of drinking, as well as certain medications especially steroids, diabetes, trauma, are factors that seem to increase cataracts in my experience.

Thankfully, you have a very treatable condition with very high surgical success rate.  You should great.

Michael Kutryb, MD

[FredZq]

Well, I'm 63 and  thought how can this be happening to me? Thought it was only old people who had cataracts. HaHa. Any way, left eye was fixed a week ago with a Tecnis acrylic aspheric. Couldn't tell its not my normal eye of 40 years ago, except that now the focus is fixed at about 13-14 inches. No problema, cause I've worn specs for 43 years and the multifocals work just fine. Actually I still find it hard to believe how easy, painless, and effective the surgery and lens implant has been. Good luck.