Prevent Blindness America has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States, and it is the leading cause of blindness in the world.
Cataract symptoms progress over time and can include:
- Painless cloudy, blurry or dim vision
- More difficultly seeing at night or in low light
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Seeing halos
- Faded or yellow colors
- Double vision within one eye
- A need for bright light for reading
What is the treatment for cataracts?
Even though cataracts are so prevalent, they are very simple to treat. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye, which prevents passage of light into the eye. The solution to cataracts is cataract surgery which requires a surgeon to remove the deteriorated lens and replace it with an artificial lens.
Do cataracts only affect seniors?
Cataracts can affect anyone! Although most people do not show symptoms of cataracts until at least the age of 40, cataracts can also affect young adults or even children. Heredity, disease, eye injury and smoking could cause cataracts to develop at an earlier age.
Can I prevent cataracts?
There is no proven way to prevent age-related cataracts. However, choosing a healthy lifestyle can slow the progression of cataracts. Some ways to delay the progression of cataracts include avoiding smoking, reducing exposure to UV rays, eating healthy foods, and wearing proper eye protection to avoid eye injury.
Call Lifecare at 330-454-2000 to make an appointment with one of our Vision Specialists.