August Is Cataract Awareness Month

August is Cataract Awareness Month – a month when eye care professionals hope to spread the word of the causes of cataracts, the prevention and the treatments.

Have you ever seen an eye with a cataract? Cataracts don’t just affect people, but many cats and dogs develope them as they age too. Cataracts happen with the lens of the eye becomes clouded, obstructing vision. Did you know that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness throughout the world?

Cataracts are often considered an older person’s problem. It’s estimated that half of all people 80 years or older have at least one cataract.  Over 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts. Although they are more common in the elderly, they’re not rare in younger people either.

The National Eye Institute identifies the different types of cataracts:

1. Secondary cataract. Cataracts can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma. Cataracts also can develop in people who have other health problems, such as diabetes. Cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.
2. Traumatic cataract. Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later.
3. Congenital cataract. Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed.
4. Radiation cataract. Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.

Progress of cataracts

Cataracts don’t just appear one day. They’re a slow progressing problem that may not be noticed at first, but then become more obvious as the cloudiness takes over.

The symptoms include:

• Cloudy or blurry vision.
• Colors seem faded.
• Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
• Poor night vision.
• Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)
• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• These symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, check with your eye care professional.

Cataracts can often be detected in the early stages and this is one of the reasons why regular eye exams are important. Surgery, the final solution for cataracts, isn’t always necessary. There are ways to help improve vision with lighting, magnifying tools and even anti-glare sunglasses.

Help yourself

Although it might not be possible to avoid cataracts altogether, it is possible to limit your risk of developing one or to hold off development. To reduce your risk:

• Don’t smoke
• Avoid exposing your eyes to direct sunlight (use good sunglasses)
• Drink alcohol moderately
• Eat a diet rich with fruit and vegetables

Speak to your eye care doctor to find out how often you should be checked. Saving your vision is worth the trip.

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