ROCHESTER, New York — Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, announced today that it has launched a website to educate the estimated 20 million aging baby boomers and seniors who are currently living with cataracts in the U.S. The website, www.cataracteducation.com, informs visitors about what causes cataracts, describes how they are treated and emphasizes the importance of visiting your eye doctor regularly.
Broadway, film and TV Actress Florence Henderson will be featured on the website. Ms. Henderson, who is currently working with Bausch + Lomb, recently had cataract surgery with Bausch + Lomb’s Crystalens® intraocular lens and she will share her experiences with visitors to the website. Ms. Henderson is best known for her role as Carol Brady in the iconic television series The Brady Bunch, which ran on network television from 1969 – 1974 and continues in syndication today. She has enjoyed a storied entertainment career that has spanned five decades and is a contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars that premieres later this month.
“I recently had cataract surgery and had the Crystalens implanted. When something works for me like Crystalens has, I like to share my experience. I am happy when telling my story helps empower, inspire and motivate people to take care of themselves. It is important for people over 50 to understand what a cataract is and what they can do about it,” said Ms. Henderson.
The website will emphasize a number of things that people over the age of 50 should consider when thinking about their eye health including getting regular eye check-ups, what a cataract is, living with cataracts, what to ask your surgeon and other key information that will help patients make an informed decision about their eye health.
“As we have begun to get to know Ms. Henderson and the experience that she had with our Crystalens® in cataract surgery, we thought that creating a website that gives some basic information for patients was a very good idea. People can learn what she went through and that may help them in their own path toward better eye health,” said Amy Jacobs, director global marketing for Crystalens.
Earlier this week, Bausch + Lomb announced that it is working with Ms. Henderson in an integrated marketing campaign for Crystalens that includes national print and online and local television advertising.
Approximately three million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year. A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens in the eye. When one forms, the natural lens in the patient’s eye is surgically replaced by an intraocular lens. Research indicates that only a small fraction of people realize that not all intraocular lenses are the same. The research also indicates that a number of patients are willing to pay a little extra money in order to get the best quality vision.
“Florence Henderson is obviously a very active woman. There are many vision correction options for the patient who is over fifty years old. When I examined Florence, I realized she was a candidate for the Crystalens. We discussed how it would help her vision up close, far away and everything in between. She’s doing very well since her surgery,” said Dr. James Khodabakhsh of the Beverly Hills Vision Institute in Beverly Hills, California.
Crystalens is the only FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens. Unlike the standard cataract replacement lenses, Crystalens is designed to not only eliminate the patient’s cataract but also to gives full range of vision so that the patient can see near, far and everything in between. Many Crystalens patients hardly if ever need their glasses or contacts again.
For more information about the Crystalens or to schedule a Cataract Evaluation please visit New England Eye Center’s website at www.BostonCataract.com or call 1.888.515.2745 or 1.617.636.7800
