History, Present, and Future of Age-Related Cataracts Surgery

Twenty years ago, WHO and IAPB introduced an initiative called ‘The Right to Sight’, which set out to eliminate avoidable blindness universally by 2020. Age-related cataracts is a major contributor to treatable blindness worldwide and is increasing in global prevalence due to the growing proportion of individuals over 65 years of age. Cataracts refers to opacification of the lens inside the eye and clinically presents as a painless blurring and clouding of vision. From couching operations in 1200 B.C. to modern phacoemulsification, different approaches have been used to tackle this ancient disease over the centuries. Treatment today mainly involves surgery to replace the opaque lens with an artificial intraocular lens. Cutting-edge research into future therapies include investigating accommodating intraocular lenses, which hope to postoperatively restore accommodation. With the target year 2020 approaching, it is necessary to initiate discussion on age-related cataracts. This paper will provide a brief overview of this disease, discuss developments in treatment, and review innovations currently being pursued in the field.