Are Young Adults Facing an Unseen Epidemic of Cataracts?

Cataracts are typically associated with aging, but an increasing number of young adults and even teenagers are showing early signs of cataract development. Experts warn we may be facing a silent epidemic of early-onset cataracts, driven by a combination of excessive screen time, poor eye protection, and lifestyle habits that leave eyes vulnerable to long-term damage.

Digital eye strain is a major factor. According to the Vision Council, over 70% of U.S. adults experience digital eye strain from daily screen use, with Gen Z and Millennials logging more than 8 to 12 hours a day on phones, laptops, and tablets. While screens don’t directly cause cataracts, the eye fatigue, dryness, and reduced blinking they trigger can contribute to weakening the eye over time. Meanwhile, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, one of the most established risk factors for cataracts, continues to go under-addressed. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20% of all cataracts may be caused or worsened by UV exposure, yet fewer than half of Americans wear sunglasses consistently.

Even when they do, many people under 40 rely on fashion sunglasses that don’t provide full UV400 protection. This leaves their eyes exposed to the very radiation that accelerates lens clouding. Recent research reflects these concerns: cataracts are now being diagnosed in patients as young as 35, and some eye clinics have reported a 15–20% increase in surgeries for patients under 50 over the past decade. Factors like UV damage, blue light exposure, pollution, and poor diet all contribute to this shift.

The consequences extend beyond vision. Vision impairment in young adults is increasingly linked to depression, anxiety, and social isolation. A study from the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that adults under 40 experiencing vision loss were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from clinical depression. The toll of untreated cataracts isn’t just physical, it affects mental health, independence, and quality of life.

Cataracts in Mali: A Preventable Crisis with a Simple Solution.

While young adults in developed countries face rising cataract risks due to lifestyle, millions of people in Mali are already living with complete cataract-induced blindness not because of age or behavior, but because of lack of access to health care.

In the U.S., a cloudy lens can be replaced with a quick, outpatient surgery. But in Mali, people especially in rural communities can live for years in total darkness simply because they cannot afford or reach a surgeon.

That’s where Embrace Relief comes in.

We’ve launched a comprehensive cataract program in Mali to bring free, sight-restoring surgeries to those who need them most. Our mobile medical teams partner with local clinics and community leaders to identify patients, and provide follow-up care completely free of charge.

Our impact so far:

• Over 40,000 cataract surgeries completed to date
• Operations conducted in rural and underserved regions
• Priority given to elderly patients, farmers, and caretakers—those who depend most on their sight

Each surgery takes just 15 minutes. But the results? Life-changing. People who were once blind can now work again. Read. Cook. Care for their grandchildren. Rejoin their communities with dignity.

And here’s the best part: it only costs $120 to restore someone’s vision.

That’s less than a new pair of designer sunglasses. And yet, it’s enough to change someone’s world forever.