HealthyLife Articles

Tag: cloudy

  • Keeping An Eye Out For Cataracts

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Eye doctor examining patients eye.

    Most people will have cataracts by the age of 80. But they don’t have to mean loss of vision. They are treatable.

    What is a cataract?

    A normal lens inside the eye is clear. Cataracts happen when the proteins in the eye’s lens start to break down. Then they clump together. This causes cloudiness and problems with your vision.

    Cataracts may occur with normal aging. But they can also happen after an eye injury or if you had eye surgery.

    Signs of cataracts

    People often notice changes in vision when cataracts start to form. These changes include:

    *  Blurry or distorted vision

    *  Being sensitive to light

    *  Seeing a “halo” around lights

    *  Seeing double

    *  Trouble seeing at night or in dimly lit rooms

    *  Seeing colors as dull or yellow-tinted

    Prevention

    The best way to help prevent cataracts is with eye sun protection. Wear sunglasses that block out 100 percent of UV rays when you’re outside during the day. Not all sunglasses offer 100 percent UV protection. Check the packaging to be sure. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep sun off your face.

    Smoking increases the risk for cataracts, so quit smoking. Get help quitting if you need it.

    Finally, get a dilated eye exam regularly. Ask your eye care specialist or doctor how often you need one.

    Seeing a doctor

    If you think you might have cataracts, talk to a doctor. You may need an eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. During the exam, your eye care specialist can perform tests to look for cataracts.

    Treatment options

    If your doctor finds cataracts, don’t panic. There are ways to treat them.

    First, your doctor may recommend new glasses or contacts for mild symptoms. You may also find that using brighter lights or a magnifying lens is helpful for reading or working.

    If your cataracts are interfering with life, you may need surgery. Cataracts surgery involves putting a new artificial lens in the eye. It is a safe surgical procedure and works well for most people.

    Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Eye Institute

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Cataract Facts

    WELL-BEING

    Image of eye doctor and patient.

    With aging comes the possibility of developing cataracts. In fact, age is the primary risk factor for developing a clouding of the lens of one or both eyes.

    Smoking and diabetes may contribute to the proteins in the eye that clump together and begin to cloud vision, but wear and tear over the years is the main culprit, according to the National Eye Institute.

    If you have trouble identifying blues and purples, you may have what is called lens discoloration from a cataract forming. The condition can begin as early as age 40, but after age 60 is when cataracts start to reduce the sharpness of your vision.

    Other signs of cataract formation include glaring headlights and poor night vision, double vision, faded colors, or frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contacts.

    Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataracts. If you smoke, stop. Researchers also believe good nutrition can help reduce the risk of age-related cataract. They advise eating green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods with antioxidants.

    If you are age 60 or older, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every 2 years. In addition to checking for cataracts, your eye care professional can check for signs of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other vision disorders. Early treatment for many eye diseases may save your sight.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine