From the American Academy of Ophthalmology

This analysis of a subset of participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study found that correction of visual impairment by cataract surgery was associated with an approximately 40 percent lower mortality rate. Comparing participants who had cataract surgery with those who did not, the 15-year crude mortality rates were similar at 71.8 percent and 79.4 percent, respectively. However, adjusting for age, gender, and factors associated with increased mortality (including diabetes, hypertension, and stroke) revealed a significant difference in survival rates. This difference remained even after additional indicators of overall health were taken into account. Ophthalmology, September 2013