The actress Cheryl Ladd. Photo Credit: Caroline Greyshock.
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FORT WORTH, Texas—Alcon, a division of Novartis, has partnered with actress Cheryl Ladd to launch the Know Your Cataract EYE-Q campaign, which seeks to educate consumers about the condition and challenges of cataract by testing their knowledge of the disease and learn about cataract treatment options.

Cataract are a leading cause of blindness among older adults in the U.S. and more than half of all Americans have cataract by the age of 80 years old, according to Prevent Blindness.

“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 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 U.S. 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.

Survey results from Know Your Cataract EYE-Q indicated one in five (20 percent) thought there were other options besides surgery to treat the condition. Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents did not know whether cataract are preventable or not. Additionally, the survey showed that three in four (75 percent) respondents did not realize cataract surgery can also correct other vision conditions such as astigmatism.

“Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed procedures each year, requiring little recovery time or inconvenience to patients' daily lives,” said Edward Holland, MD, director of cornea services at Cincinnati Eye Institute. “In fact, recent advances in lens technology and treatment options make it possible to correct cataract 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.