It's June, which means it's Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know that cataracts are the leading culprit of deteriorating vision among adults aged 55 and older? More so, more than half of all people who are 65 and older have at the very least, partial cataract development. According to the National Eye Institute, by the time they reach 80 years old, more than half of all Americans will have either had cataract surgery, or will have a cataract.
So what exactly is a cataract? A cataract is a fogging of the lens in the eye, which obstructs or distorts the passage of light into the eye. For a lot of people, cataracts are a normal side effect of aging. Other potential causes for developing a cataract include diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, family medical history, long-term steroid use, cigarettes and various eye injuries.
During the first phases of cataract development, brighter lighting and eyeglasses can be used to reduce the vision problems you may have begun to notice. At a certain point in the future, though, surgery may be required to help your vision. More than 90 percent of people who have cataract surgery recover great sight.
If you are over fifty-five and having a hard time seeing in low light, it may be time to discuss cataracts with your eye doctor. Cataracts are treatable, and we know you want to see well throughout your golden years.