The Importance Of Cataract Awareness Month
June is Cataract Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness and hopefully motivate more people to seek treatment for cataracts.
Keep reading to learn more about cataracts and cataract awareness month.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are the gradual clouding of your natural lens. They occur as the proteins in the lens begin to break down and clump together.
If left untreated, they make it more challenging for you to see, and gradually you will lose your eyesight.
Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process and are very common in adults in their sixties and older. They are one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.
By being aware and proactive, you can prevent this from happening to you.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts?
When you have a cataract, your vision may appear blurry or cloudy. You may see double in one or both eyes.
This is because any light entering your eye becomes scattered as it hits the mirky lens. This scattering results in images reflecting inside your eye and causes you to see multiple incomplete images.
When you have a cataract, you may find that reading has become more challenging. You may need bright light to help you see more clearly, only to discover that you get headaches and eye pain by using it.
Another common sign of a cataract forming is glares and halos from other car’s headlights. These can be distracting and dangerous if you are driving.
What Is The Treatment For Cataracts?
Unlike other debilitating eye conditions, there is a treatment for cataracts. And part of raising awareness is to encourage more people to treat their cataracts.
Cataract surgery is the only treatment for cataracts. It removes your natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens or IOL.
After surgery, you’ll be able to see clearly once again. Part of your preparation for cataract surgery is to choose the best IOL for you.
There is a wide range of IOLs to choose from, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The most basic IOLs only correct vision at one distance.
The most sophisticated can give you near-perfect vision at all distances. Your eye doctor will help you select the perfect IOL for you.
Prevention
It’s impossible to prevent cataracts from ever forming altogether, but it is possible to delay them. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will raise your chances of maintaining clear vision as you age.
Also, to protect your eyes, always wear UV-blocking sunglasses and a hat if you’re going to be outside. Quit smoking and maintain a healthy body weight by getting regular exercise.
Getting frequent eye exams is the best way to ensure cataracts will not cause vision loss. Eye exams won’t prevent cataracts from forming, but they allow your eye doctor to know when you have cataracts.
That way, they can monitor your eyesight as your cataracts develop. Then they’ll help you determine when the right time to get cataract surgery is.
Are you concerned about cataracts? Schedule an appointment at Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT, to get your eyes checked!
Regular eye exams will ensure you won’t lose your eyesight to cataracts!
