Hi. I was diagnosed with one in the right eye at probably age 40 or 41...none of the above mentioned risk factors, but I did have an injury to that eye when I was 12 or 13. A couple years later as it progressed, I was doing the research and talked to the doc about doing the surgery with the ReStor lens implant for the right eye and lasik for the other eye. He told me it would be best just to have both eyes done, since cataracts also run in my family (grandmother in her late 50s, mom in her late 40s, dad just got his done at 73). I did the surgery 4 years ago, right eye first, then checkup the next day, and left eye the day after that. I was apprehensive to say the least, since I had watched the process in an internet video. But after the first eye, and walking out of the office with no patch, just dark glasses to cover it, and then being able to see the stars that night, I was elated!!! Couldn't hardly wait for the second eye to be done.
4 years down the road, I am still happy with it, because the ReStor lens allows me to see well up close for reading (unless there isn't enough light - then I need either my progressives or a drug store pair of readers) and distance, just fine. As I mentioned in another thread, ReStor can give you problems in the mid-range, say 2-6' (I have trouble with the GPS in the car, for example, or with the teleprompter when I give a speech, and I use a pair of prescription progressives for that).
A couple more things to talk over with your doc:
1) Would a combination of ReStor and ReZoom be a good option? I have heard that this combination helps with the mid-range issue I mentioned above.
2) how much will it cost, if the insurance only covers the older style single vision lense? Mine cost about $500 per eye extra, if I remember correctly (4 years ago), but in my opinion, it was well worth the money, to not have to wear glasses all the time. (Like I said, I still need them, but use them maybe 5% of the time. You may not even need them if the combination ReStor/ReZoom is a good option in your case).
3) if you like needlework or some other craft or hobby that requires close-up manipulation of shiny objects, ask your doctor about his patients' experience with whatever lens you go with. My only complaint worth mentioning here is that I have a real problem with shiny objects. I don't do needlework...but using the nail clippers gives me problems. The reason is that ReStor can cause halos around really bright objects, like car headlights (not enough of a problem to prevent driving), and shiny objects like needles and nail clippers. As I said, I don't have any hobbies where this would be a problem, but if you do, the single vision implant combined with glasses may be a better option...but you will have to wear them pretty much all the time.
4) Do you have astigmatism? If so, ask your doctor about AK (astigmatic keratotomy) to be done in conjunction with the removal and implant. I had this done, otherwise I would have required glasses all the time, just for the astigmatism. That cost a few hunded per eye, I forgot exactly how much, and I think the insurance covered most of it...regardless, well worth the cost for me.
Hope this helps, good luck!!!
R