HealthWatch: August 2008

Cataract Awareness

August is Cataract Awareness Month.  A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens which prevents the passage of light needed for vision; cataracts form slowly and do not cause pain.  Some are small and barely affect vision, others grow larger and may need to be removed with surgery.  Approximately 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts; more than half of all Americans develop cataracts by age 80.

Cataracts can be caused by age, trauma to the eye, diabetes, long-term exposure to toxic substances, ultraviolet light and radiation.  Symptoms can include cloudy vision, sudden nearsightedness, changes in the way you see color (especially yellow), difficulty driving at night, problems with glare or double-vision.  An eye doctor can determine the presence of a cataract through a few simple tests.

Resources

Local
Cleveland Clinic

National
American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives