Cataracts and poverty are closely related in Mexico

In the last 20 years, a group of volunteers in Mexico has set out to cure cataracts in some of Mexico’s most marginalized communities.

It is worth noting that, in many cases, cataracts are made worse by the fact that these people live far away from health centers and are usually unable to afford a cataract surgery, which costs around MXN$19,000 (USD$995) .

Old people who suffer from cataracts are usually left in the dark.

Though Mexico’s Ministry of Health did not provide specific numbers on the number of people suffering from cataracts in Mexico, the World Health Organization estimates that around 50% of older adults between 65 and 74 years old are suffering from this ailment at the global scale.

According to a study called “ Epidemiology of Cataract in the Mexican Population by 2020 ,” there will be 23 million older adults–over the age of 78–suffering from cataracts in the country by 2020.

It is presumed that around 65% of older adults may have some kind of visual disability, out of which 60% is likely to have cataracts, which amounts to a total of 9 million Mexicans , following projections made by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and the National Population Council (CONAPO) .

Though cataracts are mostly caused by advanced age, there are other factors such as chronic exposure to UV rays, malnutrition, and diabetes. All of these factors are particularly common in marginalized communities.

In 1997 , surgeon Jorge Castro created a foundation called “ Fundación MAS ” to gather funds and cure cataracts at small communities in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Each year, around 25 volunteer doctors cure a total of 250 people.

Not enough geriatricians for the elderly in Mexico

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