Fort Worth, Texas, June 1, 2016 – Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, has partnered with actress Cheryl Ladd to launch the Know Your Cataract EYE-Q campaign, which sheds light on the general lack of understanding about the condition and challenges Americans to test their Cataract EYE-Q, and learn about cataracts and their treatment options.

Cataracts are a condition that causes a cloudiness of the natural lens of the eye, which can impair vision and progressively worsen over time. According to Prevent Blindness, a national patient advocacy organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, cataracts are a leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States and more than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old.¹

“My husband previously had cataract surgery and during the process we realized how little we both knew about the condition and procedure – we found out that there are a lot of misconceptions about cataracts,” said Cheryl Ladd. “It was important for both us to increase our Cataract EYE-Q so we could ask the right questions to inform our decision making process. I hope my personal journey will inspire others to equip themselves with the information needed to talk to their doctor.”

In a 2016 US survey of approximately 1,000 adults aged 60 and over who have been diagnosed with cataracts, only 25 percent of respondents said they had a full understanding of the condition.² Almost one in five (20 percent)² thought there are other options besides surgery to treat the condition. Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents did not know whether cataracts are preventable or not.² Additionally, the survey demonstrated that three in four (75 percent) respondents did not realize cataract surgery can also correct other vision conditions such as astigmatism,² which is a common, treatable imperfection in the curvature of the eye causing blurred vision.³

“Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed procedures each year, requiring little recovery time or inconvenience to patients' daily lives,” Edward Holland, M.D., director of cornea services at Cincinnati Eye Institute. “In fact, recent advances in lens technology and treatment options make it possible to correct cataracts as well as other vision conditions and can help reduce the need for corrective glasses or contact lenses following surgery."

During the month of June, which is nationally recognized as Cataract Awareness Month by Prevent Blindness, visit www.CataractEYEQ.com to take the Cataract EYE-Quiz, or share with a loved one.

About Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye that affects vision. As a cataract develops, the eye’s lens gradually becomes hard and cloudy which scatters light rays and allows less light to pass through, which makes it more difficult to see. The vast majority of cataracts happen as a result of normal aging but radiation exposure, taking steroids, diabetes, and eye trauma can accelerate the development of cataracts. Additionally, cataracts can be hereditary and congenital and can present shortly after birth. Cataracts are the most common age-related eye condition and the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults 55 and older in the US. Approximately 25 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, and this number is expected to double to about 50 million by 2050.⁴ Cataracts are treated by surgically removing the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL), which can also address other vision conditions including astigmatism and presbyopia. More than 98 percent of cataract surgeries are considered successful and patients can usually return to their normal routines within 24 hours.