We just celebrated Healthy Aging Month and at The Eye Site, we’re here to offer you the best information on how to keep your eyes healthy as you get older.
Did you know that as we age, we are at higher risk of developing eye diseases and conditions that can affect our sight, as well as causing discomfort that can affect our everyday lives? We’ve created this five part series of articles to help you to understand all of the details of the five most common conditions that affect us as we age.
Let’s talk about each condition! We’ll cover the common symptoms and the causes, as well as some treatment and prevention options.
We’ll start with Cataract.
What is Cataract?
A cataract is a cloudy area on the lens of your eye, and are common as we age, with more than half of all Americans over the age of 80 having cataracts or having had cataract surgery.
What are some of the common symptoms of Cataract?
Symptoms include:
- vision getting clouded or blurry; colors appearing faded
- inability to see well at night, especially with lamps, headlights, and sunlight seeming too bright or having a “halo” effect
- seeing double (this symptom can go away as the cataract gets bigger)
- or having to change your glasses or contact lens prescription more often than normal.
What are some of the causes of Cataract?
Risk for cataract increases with age, and also if you:
- have diabetes or a family history of cataract
- smoke and/or drink alcohol
- spend a lot of time in the sun
- have had an eye injury, eye surgery, or have had radiation treatment to your upper body
- take steroids (medication often used to treat arthritis or allergies).
How do we treat Cataract?
Surgery is the only treatment for cataracts, but you may not need surgery right away. If you are diagnosed with cataracts that are not ready for surgery, you may slow the development of the cataract by:
- Use brighter lights at home or work
- Use magnifying glasses when you need to read and do small, close-range activities
- Try a new prescription and ask for anti-reflective coating on your lenses.
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How do I prevent developing Cataract?
There are several things we can do to protect our eyes as we age that will help to prevent cataract:
- Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing hats or sunglasses
- Quit smoking
- Eat eye-healthy foods, such as leafy greens and other colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts
- Wear protective gear for your eyes when participating in sports and using power tools
Let us know what questions you have about Cataract. Call us, shoot us a text, or write an email with your questions, or to schedule an appointment to get screened. We are always happy to help you to take excellent care of your eyes!