Low-SDI Regions Expected to Face Disproportionately Higher Cataract Burden in Coming Years

Countries with limited resources, such as China and Asia, will come under increasing strain in future years as cataract incidence grows. Women are also expected to be disproportionately affected across the globe. Researchers propose several strategies to mitigate the burden on these populations, such as “expanding access to cataract surgery, strengthening primary eye care and implementing targeted, gender-responsive strategies.” Photo: Gleb Sukhovolskiy, OD. Click image to enlarge. The number of people living with cataracts is expected to increase substantially in the next few decades as the global population ages. According to a new study published in the journal Eye, the global incidence of cataract may exceed 111 million by 2030 and is predicted to affect certain regions more than others. This includes countries with limited resources, such as China and India, which may face challenges scaling timely surgery.The study used Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimates to quantify cataract burden among adults aged 60 years and older across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021, focusing on prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The researchers calculated age-standardized prevalence and age-standardized DALY rates, then analyzed the relative contribution of population growth, population aging and epidemiological change.The results showed the number of people with cataract increased from 32.8 million in 1990 to over 82 million in 2021, with projections reaching 111.4 million by 2030. Despite this, the global age‑standardized rate declined overall, though increases persisted in areas with a low or middle Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). Stark disparities persist in less developed regions, though absolute inequality has lessened.The primary driver of the rising global incidence of cataract was population growth. Forecasts indicate that low‑income regions will shoulder a disproportionate share of the future burden, while high‑SDI countries will continue to benefit from earlier detection and improved care. In their paper, the study authors explained that low- and low-middle-SDI regions “face significant barriers in access to ophthalmic care, with limited surgical capacity contributing to higher DALYs.” At the same time, “high-SDI countries benefit from better healthcare infrastructure, leading to lower DALYs.”The study also highlighted ongoing gender disparities in cataract burden. “Across nearly all regions and age groups, women exhibited higher cataract burden than men, with little improvement over the past three decades,” the authors wrote. They noted that while females’ longer life expectancy may play a role, it’s likely that structural inequities—“including disparities in education, income, healthcare access and social norms limiting women’s ability to seek care”—also explain part of this difference. To help reduce preventable visual impairment, the authors made several policy recommendations, such as “expanding access to high-quality, affordable cataract surgery, increasing surgical capacity and establishing mobile or outreach programs for underserved populations.” They added, “Systematic screening and strengthening routine health information systems are critical for ensuring timely referrals and guiding resource allocation.”Click here for the journal source. Sun B, Yuan Q, Chen S, et al. Global, regional, national differences and gender disparity in the burden of cataract: current trends and future projections. Eye (Lond). April 1, 2026. [Epub ahead of print]. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.