University of Otago experts are calling for more and earlier cataract surgeries in Aotearoa, after research found the surgery lowered the risk of dementia.
New Zealand patients typically have poorer vision and more advanced cataracts by the time they have surgery, compared with other countries.
Many will fail a drivers license sight test before qualifying.
More than 40,000 New Zealanders have cataract surgery a year - only about half are publicly funded.
Dr Francesc March, a consultant eye surgeon at Otago University, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
