When do cataracts get removed?

Cataract surgery: Almost everyone develops some cataract lens changes as we age. Early on, they cause little or no symptoms. As they get cloudier, then the patient will start having some vision problems like difficulty reading, driving, glare, haloes around headlights, etc. When that happens, you and your eye surgeon can discuss the proper timing of cataract surgery.

Dysfunctional vision: Cataracts, the leading cause of treatable blindness worldwide, are removed when a persons visual function has declined to a level that interferes with their normal activities of daily living. Several factors are considered when surgery is contemplated: the visual acuity, glare disability, coexisting ocular diseases, prognosis, systemic diseases & postoperative management to name a few.

With vision problems: You should have your cataracts operated on cataracts when they affect your activitities of daily living. "you have problems doing things you like, or need to do", or there is medical reasons that the cataracts should be taken care of (causing glaucoma!). There is no set vision (i.e. 20/40 or 20/50) that indicates you should have surgery. You should have symptoms, or need to pass drivers exam.