The month of June shines a light on the prevalent problem of cataracts. More than half of Americans either have a cataract or have had surgery for it by age 80. Are you aware of the signs and symptoms of this seemingly omnipresent vision condition?
[Special thanks to the National Eye Institute (which has designated June as National Cataract Month), the National Institutes of Health, and the American Optometric Association for the information provided here.]
WHAT: A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision and is especially common in older Americans. In fact, a full 17% of Americans age 40 and over have cataracts in one or both eyes.
WHY: In a normal eye, light passes through a transparent lens to the retina (a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). Once there, light changes into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. For the retina to receive a sharp image, the lens must be clear. If it’s not, as with a cataract, what you see will be blurry.
SYMPTOMS: It’s time to schedule an appointment with an eyecare professional when a person experiences:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Fading of colors
- Decreased night vision
- Increased glare (sunlight, indoor lighting, or oncoming automobile headlights may feel too bright or you see a halo effect around lights)
- Double or multiple images in one eye
- More frequent prescription changes in glasses or contacts
HELP: Patient and optometrist should discuss any of these symptoms. While some can suggest a variety of vision problems, an eyecare practitioner will be able to tell whether the patient may have cataracts and—after a comprehensive eye exam—what is the best course of care.
THE GOOD NEWS: Cataracts are—in most cases—a natural part of aging. If a cataract does need to be removed, the result will be vastly improved vision.
