Birmingham seniors are reminded
to take note that August marks Cataract Awareness Month. Information about cataracts,
cataract surgery and lens implants is important for seniors to become familiar
with in order to help preserve their eye health and vision as well as their
ability to maintain an active lifestyle.
In the U.S. today more than half of all Americans over 65 have some degree of cataract
formation. In fact, cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss among seniors.
With modern cataract surgery and lens implants it is well within reach for most
people to have their cataracts removed and achieve very good vision.
A
cataract is the clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye and is not a growth
or a film over the eye. It is this clouding and blurring that impedes patients’
ability to see clearly and crisply.
Cataract
development is often a slow moving process that at the beginning may have
little impact on vision at all. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does
the impact on vision. The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts
can include blurring of vision, clouding of vision, sensitivity to light
and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or
yellowing of colors and frequent changes in glasses or contact lens
prescriptions.
Effect of Poor Vision for Seniors
Poor
vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental
decline. Further, the challenges that reduced vision creates in terms of
mobility and safety can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic
injury-especially hip fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with
cataract surgery has an important place in securing senior health, well being,
mobility, safety and mental state.
When Should Seniors have Cataract Surgery?
Surgery becomes an option when cataracts
begin to interfere with daily activities or with patient comfort, mobility and
safety. Cataract surgery is one of the
safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. In
addition, today we have a full range of lens implants available that allow us
to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision
problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring
bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.
If
you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery
or lens implants please feel free to
call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision to schedule an
appointment.
Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205
