Cataracts
Global Impact, Global Goals
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in the world today, with more than twenty-five million people affected each year. But, significant loss of vision is often preventable and even restorable as advances in cataract surgery have allowed for predictable and excellent results. Millions of people undergo this vision-improving procedure every year, and many emerge with their vision restored. Still millions more around the world continue to lose their sight as a result of the condition. Alcon is committed to the global treatment of cataracts and pursues this through humanitarian efforts, education on a local level and product support – helping to impart a better quality of life to those who needlessly suffer.
What Is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens in one's eye that can be caused by eye trauma, heredity, diabetes, some medications, and, most frequently, the natural aging process. Like the lens of a camera, the eye's lens picks up images and focuses light, colors and shapes onto the retina at the back of the eye to then be sent to the brain for processing. Made mostly of protein and water, the human lens can become clouded and keep light and images from reaching the retina. The result can be blurred images that were once sharp, difficulty in seeing things at night or simply that contact lenses or spectacles no longer seem to help.
The Alcon Difference
From surgical systems to replacement lenses, Alcon is making advancements in every aspect of cataract treatment – delivering a complete approach to meet the needs of patients and physicians alike.
Alcon has led the way when it comes to artificial lens technology. The AcrySof® line of lenses is the most frequently implanted in the world, as physicians appreciate the long-term clinical results of the lens. Recent advances to this line of lenses also address other visual disturbances while correcting for cataracts. The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens treats cataracts with presbyopia. The AcrySof® Toric lens corrects for astigmatism and cataracts. And, the AcrySof® IQ lens treats spherical aberration and cataracts.
The INFINITI® Vision System by Alcon is the world's first tri-modal cataract removal surgical instrument that offers surgeons the flexibility of three choices for cataract removal. These choices allow surgeons to choose the optimal method of removal for each individual patient, improving safety.
The DisCoVisc® Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device (OVD) from Alcon is a breakthrough in viscoelastics, providing physicians with the properties and attributes they require during all stages of cataract surgery.
