Specifically, we (1) confirmed that cataracts among middle-aged and older adults were independently associated with hearing difficulties in the UK population; (2) revealed polygenic overlap and 6 shared genomic loci between cataracts and hearing difficulties; and (3) suggested QKI, STK17A, TYR, NSF, and TCF4 genes likely contribute to the pathophysiology of cataracts and hearing difficulties. The gene discussed is STK17A; the disease is cataract.