Along with June being Firework Eye Safety Month, it is also Cataract Awareness Month. With cataracts being the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the world, we thought we would take some time to get you caught up on cataracts.
According to Your Sight Matters, there are over 24 million Americans over the age of 40 who are affected by cataracts and there are 4 million cataract surgeries are performed every year in the United States.
What are Cataracts?
A cataract is quite simply the clouding of the lens that bends and reflects light onto your retina. Aging is the most common cause of cataracts, although some people are at a higher risk of experiencing cataracts than others. Protein in the lens of your eye begins to break down as you get older and this is the most common cause of the cloudiness in your vision.
Who Can Get Cataracts?
Anybody and everybody is at risk of developing cataracts as they get older. If your parents and other family members commonly suffer from cataracts then you are most likely more prone to them than the average person. Diabetes and other medical problems can also lead to a higher risk for cataracts. Other factors that lead to increased risks for cataracts include eye injuries, eye surgeries and high exposure to UV rays and radiation.
Is There a Treatment For Cataracts?
Cataracts are one of the easier eye conditions to treat. Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute offers the most advanced technology surgery and lens replacement procedures. What we do is remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear artificial one to restore your vision to the way it was before the cataract. Cataract surgery is the one of the safest and most common eye surgeries performed, so if you suffer from cataracts, you can rest assured that it can be safely fixed.
Cataract Prevention – Is It Possible?
Although there is no real way to prevent age related cataracts, there are some steps that you can take to lower the risk. Avoiding activities like smoking and reducing UV ray exposure can help. You can do this by wearing proper eye protection. If you think that you may be suffering from cataracts or think that you may be a good candidate for cataract surgery then give the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute a call today at (954) 741-5555.
