Anne Hathaway Was ‘Legally Blind’ for a Decade Due to Early Onset Cataract

• Anne Hathaway recently shared about the early onset cataract that left her legally blind in one eye for 10 years. 
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 17.2% of Americans ages 40 and older have a cataract in one or both eyes. 
• Cataracts generally begin to occur in people over 40, but they can and often do occur in people younger than this. 

Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor Anne Hathaway recently spoke out about the early onset cataract that left her nearly legally blind for 10 years.

“I was half blind for 10 years — age 30 to 40,” Hathaway told the New York Times’ Popcast in an earlier interview. “I had an early onset cataract, and it affected my vision so much that I was basically legally blind out of my left eye.”

Hathaway said she underwent surgery to fix her cataract. “I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until I could finally see the full spectrum,” she told the Popcast. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 20.5 million (17.2%) Americans ages 40 and older have a cataract in one or both eyes. 

While cataracts typically develop after age 40, they can occur in younger people.

Cataracts are common among middle-aged and older adults. They affect approximately 94 million people globally and are one of the leading causes of vision impairment.

“Everyone will develop at some point in their lifetime, and while they typically begin forming between ages 40 and 50, we do see cases that develop earlier, often referred to as early onset cataracts,” said Ashley Brissette, MD, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon specializing in cataract surgery in New York City.

Healthline spoke with Brissette to learn more about early onset cataracts and how they’re treated.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length. 

What causes early onset cataracts? 

Brissette: These earlier cases may be influenced by factors such as genetics, certain medical conditions, medications, or environmental exposures.

So while early onset cataracts are less typical, they are not uncommon, and they are a reminder to pay attention to changes in your vision at any age.

Do early onset cataracts always lead to blindness? 

Brissette: Cataracts can progress to significantly impact vision if left untreated. As the lens becomes more clouded, patients may experience blurred or cloudy vision, difficulty seeing at night, and faded colors. 

The old thinking was to wait until cataracts became advanced before removing them surgically, but a more modern approach is to remove them as soon as they affect your vision and quality of life. 

We have excellent options for lens implants that are placed inside the eye after cataract surgery. These lenses can provide a range of vision to limit the need for glasses after surgery. 

The important thing to know is that this kind of vision loss is treatable with modern cataract surgery.

What are the signs of early onset cataracts? 

Brissette: Early signs of cataracts are often subtle and easy to overlook. Patients may notice:

• blurry or cloudy vision
• increased sensitivity to light or glare
• difficulty seeing at night
• colors appearing faded
• needing brighter light for everyday tasks

Over time, cataracts can also affect independence and quality of life, contributing to reduced mobility and an increased risk of falls.

If something feels different with your vision, do not ignore it. Regular eye exams are key because cataracts develop gradually.

How are early onset cataracts treated? 

Brissette: In the early stages, some patients can manage with stronger lighting or updated glasses. But when cataracts begin to interfere with daily life, surgery is the standard, highly effective, and safe treatment. And it can help you see better with less dependence on glasses. 

Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States.

What’s really exciting today is how much the procedure has evolved. We are not just removing the cataract. We are replacing it with an intraocular lens that can correct vision.

With advanced technologies, including some of the latest presbyopia correcting options, I am seeing patients achieve a range of vision that can significantly reduce their need for glasses. In many cases, patients are not just getting back the vision they had before their cataract. They are actually seeing better than they did before it developed.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that cataracts are just something you have to live with, but that is not true.

Cataracts are highly treatable, and addressing them can make a meaningful difference not just in vision, but in overall quality of life, from maintaining independence to reducing risks like falls and even reducing the risk of dementia.

The key takeaway is to stay proactive. The earlier we evaluate changes in vision, the more options we have to deliver the best possible outcomes.