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Impact of Cataracts & Advanced Lens Technology

Impact of Cataracts & Advanced Lens Technology

The medical technology industry is continually advancing and developing new innovations that improve the health and well-being of patients worldwide.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are a condition in which the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, and if not treated, can lead to blindness.1 Cataracts are a leading cause of visual impairment among aging Americans and a key quality of life issue.2

Did You Know

  • 24.5 million Americans suffer from cataracts.3
  • Prevalence is on the rise: The cataract caseload is expected to rise 55% by 2020 and 104% by 2050, to 38 million and 50 million people respectively.4
  • Major vision problems cost the U.S. economy approximately $35.4 billion a year.5

Treating Cataracts with Medical Technology Solutions

Cataract surgery, the only known treatment, involves removal of the clouded lens and replacement with an intraocular lens (IOL), an artificial lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of the eye.6

Cataract surgery has been shown to help patients in terms of:

  • Quality of Life: Cataract surgery yields an overall 36.2% gain in quality-of-life when performed in both eyes.7
  • Better Vision: Approximately 90% of cataract surgery patients report better vision following surgery.8
  • Reduced Mortality: Cataract surgery has been shown to reduce long-term mortality risk by 40%.9
 

References

[1] G. Brown, M. Brown, A. Menezes, B. Busbee, et al. “The Extraordinary Patient Value and Financial Value to Society Conferred by Cataract Surgery,” Ophthalmology (December 2013): 2367-2376.
[2] “Caring for Your Vision,” American Optometric Association, available at http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/nutrition/....
[3] “Statistics & Data, Cataracts,” National Eye Institute, available at http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/cataract.asp.
[4] “Cataracts,” National Eye Institute. Retrieved August 7, 2014, from: https://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/cataract.asp.
[5] “The Economic Impact of Vision Problems: The Toll of Major Adult Eye Disorders, Visual Impairment, and Blindness on the U.S. Economy,” Prevent Blindness America, available at http://documents.preventblindness.org/publichealth/Impact_of_Vision_Prob...
[6] “Facts About Cataract,” National Eye Institute, available at http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp.
[7] G. Brown, M. Brown, A. Menezes, B. Busbee, et al. “The Extraordinary Patient Value and Financial Value to Society Conferred by Cataract Surgery,” Ophthalmology (December 2013): 2367-2376.
[8] “Eye and Vision Problems,” American Optometric Association, available at http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-....
[9] C.Fong, P. Mitchell, E. Rochtchina, E. Teber, et al. “Correction of Visual Impairment by Cataract Surgery and Improved Survival in Older Persons,” Ophthalmology (September 2013): 1720–1727

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