The Alcon Eye on Cataract global survey finds that vision is considered the most important aspect of aging by 86% of people in India

by Priya Jadhav 

In India, vision ranks #1, above memory and mobility as the most important aspect of aging¹. 

54% of Indians aged 50+ feel older as a result of wearing glasses. 

Bangalore, July 05, 2023 – Alcon, a global leader in eye care, today announced the results of the Alcon Eye on Cataract survey conducted in March-April 2023 across 10 countries, including India, amongst people aged 50+ years to gather insights on vision and cataract. The sample included people who had been diagnosed with cataract in the last five years and were either waiting for or had undergone cataract surgery. It also included people in the general population over the age of 50 years who had not been diagnosed with cataract. The survey shows that patients who have undergone cataract surgery agree they have an improvement in vision as well as their overall quality of life.

In India, people ranked vision #1 above memory and mobility as an important aspect of aging¹. Most Indians (90%) are willing to invest in cataract surgery to ensure vision clarity¹. Interestingly, 54% of people in India stated they feel older because of wearing glasses¹ and 92% of Indians aged 50+ are willing to pay for a lens that would liberate them from the need of glasses¹. With regards to information on cataract surgery, in India, 59% of people stated they were likely to consult eye care professionals, while 39% and 37% mentioned family and friends respectively, and 36% cited health-specific websites.

Amar Vyas, Country Manager of Alcon India, said, “We are pleased to share the results of this survey on the back of Cataract Awareness month, which is globally observed in June and highlights the need for more awareness around this condition. India has a population of 260 million aging adults². It is important to know that according to this survey, good vision is highly valued as people age. Clear vision is crucial for people to enjoy daily activities they look forward to, and it also supports the process of healthy aging. The survey findings underscore the need to educate patients about their options for clear vision post-cataract surgery. Cataract surgery replaces the clouded lens with an advanced technology intraocular lens. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only restore vision to pre-cataract clarity but also to correct refractive errors such as presbyopia and astigmatism while reducing the need for glasses.”

According to the survey, across the globe, those who have used advanced cataract solutions agree that they have experienced improved vision and better quality of life.

• More than 90% of people who have been diagnosed with cataract look forward to activities such as reading, using electronic devices, driving, walking, and solving crossword puzzles after cataract surgery¹.
• 88% say that their vision has improved after surgery with 45% agreeing that they now have the vision of someone younger¹.
• 77% of patients surveyed say that their quality of life has improved post cataract surgery¹.

Today, cataract surgery patients also have the opportunity to correct their vision—reducing or eliminating the need to wear glasses —with a presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (PC-IOL). There are many different types of PC-IOLs, including advanced technology options that offer patients the possibility of 20/20 vision at distance (driving), functional intermediate (using a computer) and near (using a mobile device), following surgery. A monofocal lens is a standard lens option that improves distance vision.