Awareness Month

Cataract Awareness Month

June 1 – 30, 2026 Recurs yearly

Older adult confidently enjoying an outdoor activity, representing the importance of recognizing cataracts and preserving independent vision.

2026 Theme

Protect Vision. Recognize Cataracts. Restore Sight.

Editorial theme • Health Custodian

Campaign Representation

Officially represented by the Blue Ribbon.

Campaign Description

Observed every June, Cataract Awareness Month highlights cataracts, clouding of the eye's natural lens, and stresses that with a 95%+ surgical success rate, most vision loss from cataracts is preventable or reversible with timely care.

Theme Focus

“Protect Vision. Recognize Cataracts. Restore Sight.” focuses on protecting eye health, recognizing the gradual changes in vision that may signal cataracts, and encouraging timely access to appropriate eye care and treatment. The theme emphasizes that cataract-related vision loss should not simply be accepted as an inevitable part of ageing: early recognition, appropriate assessment and effective treatment can help people preserve or regain vision, maintain independence and continue participating fully in everyday life.

Key Priorities

  • Improve public understanding of cataracts and how they affect vision.
  • Encourage people to recognize gradual changes in vision.
  • Promote timely comprehensive eye examinations.
  • Increase awareness of cataract risk factors, including age, diabetes, smoking, eye injury, certain medications and prolonged UV exposure.
  • Encourage appropriate protection from excessive UV exposure.
  • Explain when cataracts may begin interfering with everyday activities.
  • Improve awareness of cataract surgery as an effective treatment for appropriate patients.
  • Address barriers to affordable, accessible cataract care.
  • Reduce avoidable cataract-related vision impairment and blindness.
  • Protect independence, mobility and quality of life among people with vision loss.
  • Strengthen access to eye care, particularly for underserved populations.

Key Concepts

  • Cataract
  • Cataract awareness
  • Cataract surgery
  • Cloudy vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Glare
  • Light sensitivity
  • Reduced contrast
  • Faded colors
  • Night vision
  • Visual impairment
  • Blindness
  • Age-related cataract
  • Congenital cataract
  • Traumatic cataract
  • Secondary cataract
  • Diabetes
  • Ultraviolet radiation
  • Smoking
  • Eye injury
  • Corticosteroids
  • Eye examination
  • Comprehensive eye exam
  • Visual acuity
  • Ophthalmology
  • Optometry
  • Intraocular lens
  • Vision restoration
  • Eye health
  • Avoidable blindness
  • Access to eye care

Campaign Resources & Support

View Awareness Calendar