saeyedoc

Fact Sheet:
Incidence and Prevalence of Cataracts and Cataract Surgery

• Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the number one cause of poor vision in the U.S.[SUP]1[/SUP]
• Cataracts are extremely common; more than half of Americans age 65 and older have a cataract, and it is thought that nearly everyone will develop one if they live long enough.[SUP]2[/SUP]
• The total number of persons who will have cataracts is estimated to rise to over 30 million by 2020.[SUP]3[/SUP]
• In over 90 percent of cases, cataracts are caused by the aging process.[SUP]4[/SUP]
• Women have a significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of cataract than men in the United States.[SUP]5[/SUP]
• Each year, nearly three million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States.[SUP]6[/SUP]

[SUP]1[/SUP] Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia Among Adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology: April 2004.
[SUP]2[/SUP] Eye Disease Information and Resources: Cataract Fact Sheet. Women's Eye Health Task Force: Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc; 2003.
[SUP]3[/SUP] Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia Among Adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology: April 2004.
[SUP]4[/SUP] Lang GK. Ophthalmology. New York. NY: Thieme New York; 2000.
[SUP]5[/SUP] Prevalence of Cataract and PseudophakiaiAphakia Among Adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology: April 2004.
[SUP]6[/SUP] Market Scope

In the United States, age-related lens changes have been reported in 42% between the ages of 52 and 64,[SUP][35][/SUP] 60% between the ages 65 and 74,[SUP][36][/SUP] and 91% between the ages of 75 and 85.[SUP][35][/SUP] Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts. Direct medical costs for cataract treatment are estimated at $6.8 billion annually.[SUP][37]

[/SUP]

• Sperduto RD, Seigel D (Jul 1980). "Senile lens and senile macular changes in a population-based sample". Am J Ophthalmol 90 (1): 86–91.

Satisfied, or do I need to go on?

roadandmountain

Nope, take a look at the breakdowns by race and gender:

1. 50% higher in whites than for blacks and hispanics.
2. higher rates for females than males
3. below 50% for black males over 80.
4. a bare majority for blacks overall over 80 (53%)
5. barely a majority for hispanic males over 80 (53%)

There are no statistics listed here for correlations between smoking and alcohol and cataracts, and use of sunglasses and rates of cataracts, although it is quite obvious that those are the 3 major risk factors.

There is a lot of epidemiological research that I'd have to pore through, but no, cataracts are NOT inevitable and they are NOT a problem for the "vast majority" of every population subset.

They are a HUGE problem for whites, and especially white females.

Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 2.59% 2.30% 2.37% 2.40% 2.51%
50-54 5.01% 5.99% 5.52% 5.59% 5.22%
55-59 8.84% 10.37% 9.63% 9.73% 9.14%
60-64 15.28% 16.19% 15.84% 15.88% 15.45%
65-69 24.95% 23.55% 24.27% 24.25% 24.73%
70-74 37.41% 31.68% 34.39% 34.17% 36.49%
75-79 51.09% 40.13% 45.16% 45.06% 49.49%
80+ 70.38% 53.48% 60.66% 60.86% 68.30%
TOTAL 18.79% 12.99% 11.82% 13.32% 17.11%

Female/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 2.14% 2.65% 2.32% 2.36% 2.25%
50-54 5.04% 7.30% 6.19% 6.22% 5.52%
55-59 9.44% 12.75% 11.16% 11.19% 10.09%
60-64 16.73% 19.81% 18.52% 18.45% 17.30%
65-69 27.39% 28.32% 28.10% 28.11% 27.58%
70-74 40.58% 37.22% 39.10% 39.06% 40.06%
75-79 54.36% 45.82% 50.17% 50.17% 53.09%
80+ 73.05% 58.48% 65.22% 65.35% 71.24%
TOTAL 21.33% 16.26% 14.23% 15.48% 19.67%

Male/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 3.05% 1.92% 2.41% 2.44% 2.77%
50-54 4.97% 4.50% 4.83% 4.86% 4.90%
55-59 8.22% 7.55% 7.99% 8.01% 8.12%
60-64 13.75% 11.76% 12.83% 12.82% 13.45%
65-69 22.28% 17.33% 19.63% 19.68% 21.53%
70-74 33.75% 23.90% 28.31% 28.27% 32.27%
75-79 46.97% 31.06% 38.17% 38.10% 44.81%
80+ 65.74% 42.56% 53.09% 53.52% 63.14%
TOTAL 16.00% 8.99% 9.26% 10.78% 14.26%

saeyedoc

Where are your citations?
I'm here in a 90%+ Hispanic population and I have yet to see anyone over 70 without cataracts in this office in a long time.
If you understood the physiology of lens development you'd know why they are inevitable.

roadandmountain

Use the scroll function on your mouse:

https://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/cataract.asp

I'm not sure if you've figured this out yet, but the people who come to your office are there because they have vision problems. Derp.

saeyedoc

That's just one source. Just because it's the NEI doesn't make it the holy grail.
Many people come here and have no idea why they did lol, usually diabetics (yeah I know, increased incidence) and others sent by their PCPs to meet HEDIS requirements for eye exams every 2 years. I don't do cataract surgery myself, so those they identify themselves as needing a cataract eval see my associates.
You're a great arguer though, almost as good as my wife. What law school did you attend lol.

roadandmountain

BTW, as long as we're using "anecdotal data" here.... I was out on a 2.5 hour ride yesterday late afternoon. Although I didn't look for it specifically, my guess is that maybe only 10% of people were wearing sunglasses. Most people don't protect themselves from the sun: no sunglasses, no sunscreen and they expose far more of their skin. Not difficult to figure out what's going on here.

roadandmountain

You're starting to figure it out, bucko. Better late than never, I suppose, lol.

The people who get cataracts are engaging in BEHAVIORS WHICH LEAD TO CATARACTS:

1. diabetes: poor diet and a lack of exercise

2. don't use sunglasses

3. drink

4. smoke

Guess what: if you DON'T poison your body and if you DO protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses---you won't get cataracts!

Derp.

roadandmountain

LOL... "I get diabetic patients over 80." "Almost all of them have cataracts." "Therefore, everyone will get cataracts." Dude, it's time to stop smokin crack, LMAO!

saeyedoc

Not to mention getting bugs and other debris in your eye.
On the lighter side, I've got a set of Oakley Radarlock paths coming in with vented lenses, one 00 Red iridium polarized for low light and the photochromic polarized black iridium for other conditions. I'll use those with my contacts.
Planning on getting RX lenses for them if I like them, any suggestions for one good lens for all conditions that's available in Rx?

saeyedoc

Prove that statement, good luck. Again, if we all lived long enough (and most of us don't), we all get them. Not many of us live to be 150 though.
The way the lens fibers (like skin cells) exfoliate, they have no where to go and just keep getting packed in tighter. Eventually they will start to turn yellow, that's a cataract, even if the patient sees 20/20.

roadandmountain

My work is done here, fellas. You know what you need to do to stay healthy. So, stay healthy.

roadandmountain

I've already proved you're a charlatan. Give it a rest. You're a fraud. You haven't done any research and you've tried to draw invalid conclusions based upon your anecdotal contact with 80 year old diabetics.

saeyedoc

Aww, you hurt my feelings, I'm going home to cry now.

BlazingPedals

So, you're stating as an expert witness that the virtuous among us won't get cataracts?

Cychologist

Read OP again. He saved for five years by not buying those throw away, cheap glasses! ;-)

I have two sets of prescription Oakleys, both more than the $300 price mentioned by OP. One set is over five years old and still free from scratches; the other pair is only a few months old which I got after my prescription changed slightly. One tends to take care of quality things. (I used to keep losing pens until my wife gave me a Mont Blanc; haven't lost it in over ten years.)

I figure I am spending about $100 a year to wear nice fitting, protective, cycling specific glasses to protect the only two eyes God gave me. I spend more than that on my bicycle tires (or even chains/cog sets for that matter).

roadandmountain

LOL, no, you can be a badass as long as you wear your wraparound sunglasses.

roadandmountain

I've had most of my sunglasses for over 4 years and none of them have broken. None of the lenses are scratched. I keep all of them in either a hardcase or soft zipped shell. I keep the lenses clean by using a lens cleaner and microfiber cloth.

My sunglasses are all high quality and I do take care of them. Fortunately for myself, they cost me around $20 to $40 per pair rather than $300 per pair.

As I've said before, plastic is plastic. Polycarb is polycarb.

Oakleys don't use some mystery high end plastic. Their frames are plastic, just like every other pair of sunglasses with plastic frames. You're paying a $260 to $280 premium PER PAIR for ZERO IMPROVEMENT in functionality.

roadandmountain

BTW the nice thing about buying 10 pair at $20 - $40 a pop instead of 1 pair at $300+ per pop is that I have a different pair for every occasion. I have polarized lenses, multi-lenses with clear for night, grey vs brown when I prefer a change, and rose colored just to look that much more pimp. The majority have multiple lenses, vented lenses, and adjustable nose pieces. I don't feel bad for people who buy oakleys, as they are getting a good product. But I'm getting just as good, if not better for a fraction of the price.

Cychologist

Looks like we disagree.

i have to have prescription sunglasses due to my astigmatism so over the counter sunglasses are out of the question. And for different lenses, I have interchangeable lenses for night riding, etc. Granted they aren't cheap either.

fietsbob

I got some great sunglasses found on the sink in the washroom at Alton Baker Park In Eugene.

aubiecat

Oh I totally agree with you. All of the major name brands of sun glasses are a huge ripoff.

roadandmountain

Nope, we don't disagree. You're just in denial about the facts.

trekmogul 

Between the pair of RazorLocks I bought my wife and the 2 pairs i bought for myself, I feel it was worth every penny of the almost 900.00 for Oakleys. I just used my Livestrong Yellow and Black Frame one for 1st time this afternoon in over 95 degree heat, and not a bit of fogging up at all. Will a $5.00 pair do the trick..? I dont know and i will never know..

BlazingPedals

Lessee... my $12 pair of wraparounds lasted 3 years before the temple piece broke while I was attaching my mirror. If I bought a $300 pair of Oakleys, they'd have to last me 75 years before I broke even. They may be an American company, and they're built a little stouter; but that kind of price differential is too much for me to ignore. Not when both have good optics and protection.

roadandmountain

You can easily find quality sunglasses with vented lenses for around $25 to $40.