Cataract Statistics Worldwide For 2025

As of 2025, cataracts are responsible for almost 45% of global blindness

Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness globally in 2025! This is affecting millions and imposing serious health and economic burdens. Even though there have been some big advancements in surgical techniques and awareness, differences in access to treatment still stubbornly and unfortunately exist, especially in low and middle income countries.

Global Prevalence and Burden

As of 2025, cataracts are responsible for almost 45% of global blindness, which affects a whopping 15.2 million individuals. They also account for 39% of moderate to severe visual impairment, which means they affect about 78.8 million people. The prevalence of cataracts increases massively with age, with rates ranging from 3.9% among individuals aged 55 - 64 to a huge 92.6% in those aged 80+. This age related trend really proves the growing burden of cataracts in ageing populations.

From 1990 to 2021, the global years lived with disability due to cataracts nearly doubled, going from 3.42 million to 6.55 million, a 91.8% increase. This surge shows that not only population growth and ageing had an effect but also that the persistent challenges in addressing cataract related vision loss effectively are still here.

Regional Disparities

Africa

In Africa, cataracts are the primary cause of blindness, which affects approximately half of the estimated seven million blind individuals on the continent. The cataract surgical rate in many African countries is very low at about 500 operations per million people annually. Barriers such as limited access to ophthalmologists, financial constraints and lack of awareness contribute to the high rate of untreated cataracts.

Asia

Asia represents a significant portion of the global cataract sufferers. In China, the overall prevalence of cataracts among individuals over 50 years old is estimated at 27.45%, with higher rates in rural areas (which sits at about 28.79%) versus urban regions (26.66%). India has made real progress increasing its cataract surgical rate from just over 700 operations per million people in 1981 to 6,000 per million by 2011. However, values change dramatically based on the region, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Europe

European countries have a wide range of cataract surgical rates with some ranging from 2,000 to 14,000 per million inhabitants. Portugal reports the highest rate while Ireland and Slovakia have the lowest. The proportion of outpatient cataract surgeries has increased across most EU member states as advancements in surgical techniques and healthcare delivery models.

North America

In the United States, more than 25 million Americans are affected by cataracts. Projections estimate this number will rise to 38.5 million by 2032 and 45.6 million by 2050 due to an ageing population. Despite the availability of advanced surgical options, differences in access to care remain, particularly among those in underserved communities.

Surgical Interventions and Access

Cataract surgery is the most effective treatment for restoring vision. Globally, approximately 28 million cataract procedures are performed annually which means about 75000 surgeries per day.

The cataract surgical rate, which is an indicator of access to cataract surgery, ranges from as low as 36 to as high as 12,800 per million population, depending on the country. In many nations the cataract surgical coverage is still around 50% or lower, which indicates that a big proportion of individuals with operable cataracts do not, sadly, receive surgery in time.

Socioeconomic factors, healthcare infrastructure and the availability of trained ophthalmologists significantly influence access to cataract surgery. High-income countries average 76.2 ophthalmologists per million inhabitants while at the same time low income countries have an average of only 3.7 per million. This massive difference contributes to unequal surgical outcomes and access to care.

Economic Impact

The economic burden of cataracts is substantial. Vision impairment because of cataracts leads to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs and reduced quality of life. The World Health Organization estimates that vision impairment, including that caused by cataracts results in an annual global productivity loss of approximately US$411 billion.

Cataract surgery is considered one of the most cost effective health interventions. However, the cost of surgery can be unreachable for many, especially in low and middle income countries. As an example, cataract surgery costs range from $3500 to $7000 per eye in the United States, while in countries like Thailand the cost ranges from $2000 to $5500 which isn't that great of a difference considering the difference in average income.

Technological Advancements

Cataract surgery techniques and technologies have improved greatly in the last decade.

The global cataract surgery devices market is going through a massive period of growth, going from US$8.91 billion in 2024 to US$12.47 billion by 2033. This growth is being fuelled by tech innovations, increased healthcare spending and the rising demand for advanced vision correction solutions.

Gender Disparities

Gender differences in having cataracts and treatment access remain globally. Women are disproportionately affected by cataracts, accounting for approximately 60% of cataract related blindness and 59% of moderate to severe visual impairment cases. Factors contributing to this difference include longer life expectancy, limited access to healthcare services and cultural barriers.

Efforts to reduce these differences involve targeted outreach programs, community education and policies aimed at improving women's access to eye care services.

Cataracts continue to cause a massive global health challenge in 2025, especially in ageing populations and low resource settings. While surgical techniques have advanced strongly and there is increased awareness, differences in access to care and treatment still remain. Facing these challenges head on requires an intense approach which includes investment into healthcare infrastructure, training of ophthalmic professionals and implementation of policies that promote equal access to eye care services. 

Cataract prevention and treatment need to be prioritised so that global health systems can significantly minimise the burden of vision impairment, enhance quality of life and improve economical outcomes for millions of us worldwide.

Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-025-03745-x 

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