June 6, 2024 — Prevent Blindness has designated June as Cataract Awareness Month to raise awareness and provide free educational resources on the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally and the primary cause of vision loss in the U.S. with approximately 20.5 million Americans aged 40 and older living with cataracts in one or both eyes. 

On a dedicated webpage, the nonprofit offers various free informational resources in English and Spanish, including fact sheets, social media graphics, and a list of vision care financial assistance programs. Additionally, the “Understanding Cataract” episode in the “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” features Albert Cheung, M.D., a specialist with Virginia Eye Consultants and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Prevent Blindness shares that more than half of Americans will develop cataracts by age 80, though they can also occur in young people or newborns (congenital cataracts). Risk factors include intense heat or UV exposure, certain diseases like diabetes, eye inflammation, hereditary factors, prenatal conditions like German measles, long-term steroid use, eye injuries, eye diseases like glaucoma, and smoking.

The Cleveland Clinic reports that cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures, with over 3 million surgeries performed annually in the U.S. and 20 million globally, improving vision for 97% of patients. For those advised to undergo cataract surgery, Prevent Blindness provides resources here, including a printable “Guide to Cataract Surgery.”