Three
Things Patients Should Know About Cataracts
Cataracts are an extremely common cause of vision loss-especially
as we grow older. In the U.S. some 25 million people have cataracts which can
often cause cloudy, blurry vision, dimming of vision, faded or dulling of
colors, glare and difficulty with night vision or in dim lighting. These symptoms may indicate
the presence of cataracts, which affect about 70 percent of people by age 75.
The good news for people with cataracts is that they are corrected with
cataract surgery and lens implants and restore excellent vision and a better
lifestyle. Things you should know about cataracts include:
Age
Isn’t the Only Risk Factor for Cataracts. Pretty much everyone will develop
cataracts with age, many studies demonstrate that lifestyle and behavior can
influence when and how severely you develop cataracts. Diabetes, extensive
exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and certain
ethnicities have all been linked to increased risk of cataracts. Eye injuries,
prior eye surgery and long-term use of steroid medication can also result in
cataracts.
Cataracts
Cannot Be Prevented, But You Can Lower Your Risk. Always wear UV blocking sunglasses
and hats with brims when out in sunlight. Eating more Vitamin C-rich foods may
delay how fast cataracts form. Absolutely, avoid smoking cigarettes, which have
been shown to increase the risk of cataract development.
Cataract
Surgery Helps Improve More Than Your Vision. During cataract surgery, we replace the
natural clouded lens with a permanent artificial lens implant or called
an intraocular lens, or IOL, which should improve your vision
significantly and allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and
astigmatism that you may have had before your procedure. In addition, we can
help you choose a lens implant that also provides you a range of clear vision for
arm’s length and near tasks such as for reading or using the computer. Besides
the vision benefits, cataract surgery has been shown to improve your overall
quality of life and reduce the risk of falling by providing more comfortable
and safer mobility.
If you or some you know is experiencing
cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving
and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please
schedule an appointment at Center for Sight 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.
Center for Sight is conveniently located
at 1565
North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from
Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
