Prevent Blindness Texas Declares June as Cataract Awareness Month to Educate Public on Eye Disease that is the Leading Cause of Vision Loss in the United States
— Prevent Blindness Texas provides free cataract resources to patients and professionals including fact sheets, social media graphics, a dedicated web page and expert video —
TX (June 1, 2024) – Prevent Blindness Texas has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month to provide patients and professionals with free educational resources on cataract, a clouding of the eye’s lens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. Additionally, an estimated 20.5 million Americans aged 40 years and older have cataract in one or both eyes.
Prevent Blindness Texas offers a variety of free informational resources in English and Spanish including fact sheets, social media graphics, and a listing of vision care financial assistance programs. The group also offers a dedicated web resource at PreventBlindnessTexas.org/cataract, and the “Understanding Cataract” episode in the “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” featuring Albert Cheung, MD, Cataract, Cornea, Anterior Segment Specialist with Virginia Eye Consultants and Assistant Professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology.
More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old. However, cataract can also sometimes be found in young people or even newborn babies (congenital). Risk factors for developing cataract include:
- Intense heat or long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes
- Inflammation in the eye
- Hereditary influences
- Events before birth, such as German measles in the mother
- Long-term steroid use (medicines used to treat some health problems, like arthritis or allergies)
- Eye injuries
- Eye diseases, such as glaucoma
- Smoking
The Cleveland Clinic states that cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures, with surgeons performing more than 3 million cataract surgeries in the United States, and 20 million globally, improving vision for 97 percent of patients. For those who have had cataract surgery recommended by their eye doctors, Prevent Blindness Texas offers the dedicated webpage, PreventBlindness.org/cataract-surgery, and the printable “Guide to Cataract Surgery.”
“As we age, we are more likely to develop cataract. The good news is that surgery is highly effective,” said Heather Patrick, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas. “Make sure to talk to your eye doctor about your risk for cataract and steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.”
For free information on cataract or cataract surgery, please visit PreventBlindnessTexas.org/cataract. For a listing of vision care financial assistance programs in English and Spanish, visit PreventBlindnessTexas.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information/. Or, contact Prevent Blindness Affiliate at affiliate phone or affiliate website.
About Prevent Blindness
Established in 1956 and incorporated in 1965, Prevent Blindness Texas is the state’s leading eye health and safety nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight. At Prevent Blindness Texas, our vision is vision – making healthy eyes a priority in Texas. We focus on improving the state’s vision and eye health by enhancing community capacity through our core competencies of early detection, patient support, systems enhancement, public policy, public awareness, and health education. Prevent Blindness Texas touches the lives of thousands of Texans through our sight-saving programs and services through our network of volunteers and offices located statewide. For more information, or to contribute to the sight-saving fund, call 1-888-98-SIGHT or, visit us on the Web at www.preventblindnesstexas.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.