HelpMeSee teaming up with Empowered with Meg Ryan to highlight solutions for global cataract blindness crisis in new episode

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/David Shankbone)

HelpMeSee recently collaborated with Empowered, an educational television series hosted by actress Meg Ryan, on a new episode addressing the public health crisis of cataract blindness, a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide.

Filmed in September 2024, this episode highlights the socioeconomic and medical challenges surrounding cataract blindness and introduces viewers to new advancements in surgical training technology that empower healthcare professionals to deliver surgical solutions to underserved communities.

The program is distributed via a third party to Public Television stations in all 50 states.¹

Preventable cataract-related visual impairment and blindness affect over 100 million people worldwide, creating a significant socioeconomic burden, as low-income populations often lack access to necessary surgical care. HelpMeSee is leading the way with realistic, simulation-based training that equips surgeons and healthcare workers to safely and effectively perform manual small incision cataract surgery, helping to expand access to transformative cataract surgery for those in greatest need.

According to Bonnie An Henderson, MD, president and CEO of HelpMeSee, the need for cataract surgical treatment is urgent.

“Vision loss due to cataract is far more than a medical issue; it is a socioeconomic crisis that disproportionately affects women,” Dr. Henderson noted. “Often, the family member suffering from cataract is confined to the home, which frequently forces the youngest female in the family to give up work or education to provide care.”

The episode highlights the following:

• Socioeconomic Impact of Cataract Blindness: An exploration of how cataract blindness disproportionately affects low-income populations and women, limiting their ability to work and contribute to their communities.
• Advancements in Simulation-based Surgical Training: A close look at how innovative HelpMeSee simulation-based training technology is training healthcare providers, making it possible to deliver high-quality surgical care to previously underserved areas.
• Promoting Equitable Access to Healthcare: Insight into how accessible and affordable eye care can help alleviate global blindness rates and contribute to socioeconomic development.

Through this collaboration, Empowered and HelpMeSee seek to inspire action and innovation, encouraging viewers to support solutions that make quality eye care more equitable and reduce preventable blindness worldwide. The episode will be distributed once completed and will be available nationwide.

Ryan is known for her roles as quirky, charismatic characters in such films as When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Top Gun, The Doors, Courage Under Fire, and many others. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in When Harry Met Sally. After a break from films, she returned to the big screen in 2023 in the romantic comedy What Happens Later, which she also directed.

Reference

1. FAQ. Empowered Program Hosted by Meg Ryan. Published March 27, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://www.empoweredprogram.com/faq/