People often assume that eye surgery should be considered once their eyesight starts to deteriorate, usually in old age. But ophthalmologist Lee R. Katzman, M.D., explains that the old timeline doesn't reflect modern reality. "Today's technologies and updated medical understanding have shifted the conversation," he says, "opening the door for people in their 40s and 50s to explore options, long before cataracts appear."
According to Dr. Katzman, the reason earlier intervention is possible is rooted in how the eye ages. "The natural lens inside the eye stiffens over time, and the change starts becoming noticeable in your early 40s," he says. "Patients often describe the same experience: their phone feels harder to read, computer work strains the eyes, or they suddenly need multiple pairs of glasses for different distances."
