Cataract surgery in the elderly

Cataract is a leading cause of blindness globally and the most important cause of reversible visual impairment. Surgery to remove the opacified lens is the only appropriate treatment for cataract. Due to the rapidly growing older population, an increasing number of old subjects become eligible for cataract surgery. Individual preferences and priorities should guide the choice of cataract surgery in older subjects. A careful clinical assessment is required before surgery, to address the differential effect of visual impairment and other clinical conditions on functional prognosis. Although the coexistence of general and ocular comorbidities makes surgical choices and procedures more complex in older subjects, relevant clinical benefits may be observed also beyond visual function: decreased fall risk, improved mood and, according to recent data, possibly reduced dementia risk. For these reasons, age per se should not represent a barrier for timely cataract correction in eligible subjects.