Cataracts affect 94 million people globally, prompting calls for early diagnosis

Cataracts remain a leading cause of blindness globally, affecting more than 94 million people with moderate to severe visual impairment or blindness, according to the World Health Organization. A major challenge in treatment is the delay in seeking medical attention, as many individuals mistakenly attribute gradual vision loss to the natural aging process.

Common symptoms include blurred vision, increased light sensitivity, difficulty driving at night, changes in color perception, and the frequent need to update eyeglass prescriptions. Experts warn that frequent changes in prescription over short intervals may indicate cataract development rather than just a need for new lenses.

In Brazil, the scale of the issue is reflected in surgical data. According to the 2025 Medical Demography in Brazil, the Unified Health System (SUS) performed over 1.18 million cataract surgeries in 2024, representing an approximately 20% increase from the previous year. While surgery is the only effective treatment—involving the replacement of the opaque lens with an intraocular lens—early diagnosis is critical to prevent advanced stages that complicate recovery.