June is Cataract Awareness month. Have you been informed that cataracts are the leading cause of loss of vision among those 55 and older? More so, more than half of those who are 65 or older have some degree of cataract development.
So what exactly is a cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye; one which limits or distorts the how light enters into the eye. For a lot of people, cataracts are a normal result of aging. Additional risks for developing a cataract include diabetes, obesity, abnormal blood pressure, family medical history, inflamed eyes, steroid use, eye injuries and smoking.
Throughout the first phases of cataract development, brighter lights and glasses may be prescribed to lessen the vision issues you may have begun to notice. At a certain point in the future, though, cataract surgery might be required to improve your sight. But, it's comforting to know that more than 90 percent of people who have cataract surgery recover perfect or near perfect vision.
If you are in your fifties and experiencing low vision, call us to discuss cataracts with your eye care professional. Cataracts are treatable, and we know you want to be able to see well throughout your later years.