Can Cataracts Clear Up On Their Own?

Many people wonder if cataracts, the cloudy patches on the eye’s lens that blocks vision, can heal naturally over time. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Cataracts do not resolve on their own, and without treatment, they only get worse. Though changes in lighting, eyeglasses, and lifestyle can temporarily manage symptoms, the only effective and lasting treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear artificial one.

This is especially concerning as cataracts are no longer just a problem of old age. Increasingly, people under 40 are developing early-onset cataract symptoms driven by a combination of digital eye strain, UV radiation, environmental toxins, and poor nutrition.

Digital eye strain is a growing concern. According to the Vision Council, over 70% of U.S. adults report symptoms from prolonged screen use. Blue light, dryness, and reduced blinking don’t directly cause cataracts, but they exacerbate overall eye fatigue and may accelerate lens aging. Meanwhile, ultraviolet (UV) exposure is a well-documented cause. Yet, most young adults rarely wear proper UV400 sunglasses, leaving their eyes vulnerable to cumulative sun damage.

Recent studies show cataracts being diagnosed in individuals as young as 35, with a 15–20% increase in surgeries for patients under 50 in the last decade. And the consequences go far beyond blurry vision, untreated cataracts can severely affect mental health, job performance, and social interaction. A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that vision loss in adults under 40 triples the risk of depression.

In short, cataracts won’t clear up. But the good news is they can be treated if caught in time and if access to care exists.

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

While cataracts are increasingly treatable in the U.S., for millions in Mali, cataracts still mean a lifetime of blindness. Not because the treatment doesn’t exist but because they can’t access it.

In rural Mali, there may be no eye doctors for hundreds of miles. Many people, especially older adults, go blind simply because they cannot afford or reach the surgery they need.

That’s where Embrace Relief comes in.

We’ve launched a high-impact cataract program across Mali to bring free, sight-restoring surgeries to those living in total darkness. Working alongside local partners, our mobile surgical teams identify patients, perform surgeries, and provide post-operative care entirely free of charge.

Our impact so far:

• Over 40,000 cataract surgeries completed
• Prioritizing underserved rural regions
• Helping the elderly, parents, and community workers regain independence

Each operation lasts just 15 minutes but its effects last a lifetime. Farmers can return to their fields. Grandparents can see their grandchildren again. Blindness that seemed permanent is reversed in a single afternoon.

And the cost? Just $120 per surgery.

That’s less than what many people spend on a single pair of sunglasses. And yet it can give someone in Mali their life and vision back.