June brings us much anticipated warm weather but it also brings us Cataract Awareness Month. It is a great opportunity to learn more about this common eye condition. Right now, cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss across the U.S. It is also the leading cause of blindness across the world.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
The good news is that getting cataracts doesn’t mean you are going to go blind. This condition is easy to treat. An ophthalmic surgeon removes the affected part of your lens. The missing portion is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure usually takes about 20 minutes and has a relatively short recovery time. Cataract surgery has a very high success rate of around 95%. It’s safe and effective.
Who Is at Risk for Cataracts?
Anyone can develop cataracts. However, some are more at risk than others. Most people don’t experience symptoms until after age 40. Some factors that can increase your risk include:
- If you have a family history of cataracts
- If you have an eye disease or injury
- If you smoke
More than half of Americans over age 80 have cataracts or have had them removed at some point in their lives.
How Can I Prevent Cataracts?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent cataracts. In some cases, it can be part of aging. There are things that you can do to lower your risk or slow cataract growth. These include living a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and exercise. Those who smoke are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age.
You should also keep up with your regular eye exams. This is the best way to detect cataracts and other conditions early. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with one of our ophthalmologists.