Results of a global survey on cataract has revealed Australia is among the lowest in the world for patients having a lens discussion with their surgeon prior to cataract surgery.
Misconceptions about cataract surgery also remain, highlighting the need to educate patients aged 50-plus on the procedure and treatment options.
The revelations come as Alcon shared the results of its 2023 Alcon Eye On Cataract Survey in support of Cataract Awareness Month in June.
The survey, conducted among more than 7,000 participants aged 50-plus between March and April 2023 across 10 countries including Australia (n=575), set out to evaluate vision and cataract insights among the world’s rapidly ageing population.
The results reveal cataract surgery can help turn back the clock for patients’ vision, with almost half (45%) of post-surgery patients agreeing they have the vision of someone younger.
The survey also found that 84% of the global population aged 50-plus currently wear and rely on glasses, but 69% of all people surveyed, including those who have not been diagnosed with cataracts, would feel liberated without their glasses.
Following cataract surgery, the percent of patients who reported reliance on glasses fell from 81% (pre-surgery) to 45%.
Cataract extraction and lens replacement is the most frequently performed surgery worldwide, with nearly 30 million cataract surgeries completed every year.
Despite cataracts’ prevalence and the importance of vision among the global population, misconceptions about the procedure remain. According to the study:
- Only 51% of the global population aged 50-plus understand they can choose from several different types of intraocular lens to fit their unique needs.
- Only 58% of the global population aged 50-plus recognise cataract surgery involves implanting a permanent lens into the eye.
- More than one in four people did not know that cataract surgery has a short recovery time.
More than eight in 10 globally agree that eyecare professionals are the preferred source of information on cataracts, yet Australia is amongst the lowest in the world for having a discussion with a surgeon about lens options prior to having surgery.
This matters, Alcon said, because the outcomes of different lenses were evident in the survey results.
“Cataract patients agree they have an improvement in quality-of-life post-surgery, including 81% of patients who received any type of presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens and 74% of patients who received a monofocal lens,” Alcon said.
Dr Armand Borovik, a Sydney and Wollongong-based cataract, corneal and refractive surgeon, said the number of Australians affected by cataract is on the rise as Australia’s ageing population continues to grow.
“There’s a need to continue educating patients on the benefits of cataract surgery, the lens options available and what each choice means for their vision,” he said.
“In conjunction with Cataract Awareness Month, it’s a timely reminder for cataract patients to seek advice from their eyecare professionals on the treatment options available and the benefits for their vision that aligns with their lifestyle needs.”
He added: “My hope is that every cataract patient is empowered to make informed choices in regards to their eye health with the support of their eyecare professionals.”
Ms Penny Stewart, cluster franchise head, surgical and country manager at Alcon Australia and New Zealand, said the survey results reinforce the benefits of presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (PC-IOLs).
“At Alcon, we are proud to be a leading eyecare company and continue to deliver our purpose to help people See Brilliantly through the latest innovations in PC-IOLs for cataract patients,” she said.
“While we have demonstrated the benefits of PC-IOLs through clinical data, the Alcon Eye On Cataract Survey underscores that, globally, these IOLs can improve people’s vision, and enhance the quality of their lives.”
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