The world’s leading cause of blindness has always been cataracts. Naturally, treatment has come a long way.
Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness — and treatment has come a long way. In the United States, more than 20 million adults over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts. By age 80, about half of all adults will have them.
In a healthy eye, the lens contains transparent proteins. When these proteins clump together and become opaque, they interfere with vision. Symptoms can include light sensitivity, dim or clouded vision, glare, halo effects around lights, double vision in one eye, faded colors, impaired night vision, and frequent changes to glasses prescriptions.
How Cataracts Were Treated in Ancient Times
The earliest known attempt to treat cataracts dates back to 600 BC, potentially making it one of the first ailments people tried to treat surgically. At the time, the method was known as “couching.” Practitioners would strike the eye with a blunt object to dislodge the cloudy lens. While this could sometimes restore light perception, it left the patient without the ability to focus—offering only partial improvement from blindness.
Later versions of couching used sharp instruments, which improved outcomes slightly. A significant breakthrough didn’t occur until 1747, when French surgeon Jacques Daviel succeeded in removing the cataract altogether. This marked a dramatic improvement, especially when combined with topical anesthesia. However, surgeons still lacked a way to replace the damaged lens with a clear one.
Claude Monet and Cataract Surgery in the 1920s
Cataracts can be frustrating for anyone—but especially for artists. French Impressionist Claude Monet began developing cataracts in his mid-fifties. The condition influenced his artwork, which became muddier in tone as his vision declined.
Monet initially avoided surgery after the poor outcomes from earlier treatments among his peers. He relied on eye drops until eventually agreeing to cataract surgery in one eye in 1923. Although he was a famously difficult patient, the combination of surgery and thick glasses significantly improved his sight. He continued painting with a renewed visual clarity for several years afterward.
Modern Cataract Surgery
If Monet faced cataracts today, he would likely undergo surgery without hesitation. Modern cataract surgery has a success rate of 98–99%. Thanks to advances in silicone and plastic materials, the cloudy natural lens can be replaced with a clear, artificial one—eliminating the need for thick corrective glasses.
Each year, about 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery. Most enjoy significantly improved vision afterward, with many achieving 20/20 vision for the first time in decades.
Are You Noticing Cataract Symptoms?
If you’ve noticed any changes to your vision that sound like those mentioned above, schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Today’s cataract treatments are safe, effective and widely available — there’s no reason to let cataracts limit your quality of life.
