Cataracts Is No Respecter of Persons - Anyone Can Be Affected
June has been set aside as Cataract Awareness Month as well as Fireworks Eye Safety Month. EPS would like to dedicate the weeks of June 10th and June 17th to Cataract Awareness and the final week of June (24th) to Fireworks Eye Safety.
American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds the public that early detection and treatment of cataracts is critical to preserving sight.
There are over 24 million Americans over the age of 40 who are affected by cataracts. Symptoms of cataract usually present when the patient is over 40 years of age, however cataracts should not be considered a condition that occurs only in the senior population. We are advised that cataracts can occur in the younger generation as well. According to “Your Sight Matters.com” cataracts can affect anyone – young adults and even children. Listed as causes of early cataracts are: heredity, disease, eye injury and smoking - yet another reason or incentive for smoking cessation!
Photo credit - www.aao.org / what are cataracts?
It is beneficial to know the signs and symptoms of cataracts. In age-related cataracts the symptoms develop slowly and therefore are not detected right away. The following is a list of symptoms that could indicate cataracts:
- Cloudy or dim vision with absence of related pain
- Difficulty seeing at night or with low lighting
- Sensitivity to light or glare
- Seeing halos
- Yellow or faded colors
- Double vision in one eye
- Needing bright light for reading
Having listed the above symptoms it should also be noted that some symptoms could have other causes such as chemical trauma, diabetes, and stroke to name a few. Therefore it is important to be evaluated and EPS has an excellent team ready to help you with Dr. Jeffrey B. Minkovitz our cataract and cornea specialist and surgeon. To obtain an appointment for evaluation with Dr. Minkovitz please call 302-652-3353.
Our next blog will touch on the treatment for cataracts and what one can do to prevent or delay cataracts.
The following links provided information for this blog and would be beneficial reading for anyone:
https://www.aao.org/newsroom/observances
https://yoursightmatters.com/cataract-symptoms-cloudy-visioncid20130605ysmtz/