June is Cataract Awareness Month!

If you’re over the age of 40, it’s likely you or someone you know has likely been diagnosed with a cataract. In fact, nearly 22 million Americans over age 40 have cataracts.

In honor of Cataract Awareness Month this June, it’s time to debunk the myths about cataracts and cataract surgery and remind people that they don’t have to live with this vision loss.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural, clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. Typically, as we age, cataracts form slowly and cause no pain and sometimes it can be difficult to notice the visual changes over time. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but as the cataract grows and begins to affect your vision, cataract surgery is the only remedy.

Common Cataract Myths:

• No exercise, diet, or eye drops can reverse the development of cataracts.
  • Fact: You can make lifestyle choices to slow the development, such as not smoking, protecting your eyes from sun exposure, and eating a balanced diet. However, there is no cure for cataracts.
• Only older people develop cataracts.
  • Fact: In some cases, cataracts can even develop at birth and age-related cataracts can develop as early as age 40.
• Close-up tasks make cataracts worse.
  • Fact: Cataracts are not caused by how you use your eyes. Instead, cataracts may be more noticeable during tasks that require good near vision.

While cataracts are not preventable, they can easily be treated at Key-Whitman Eye Center. Cataract surgery has undergone tremendous technological advances since the days of your parents and grandparents. Today it is safer, more precise, with a faster recovery time. Even better, no longer does the procedure simply remove the cataracts and possibly restore your distance vision. Today, when in the hands of our experienced surgeons who have invested and trained in advanced options, you can enhance your vision to provide you with a full range of vision while minimizing or almost completely eliminating your dependence on glasses.

Common Cataract Surgery Myths:

• Recovery from cataract surgery takes months.
  • Fact: With today’s surgery, many patients see improvement in their vision immediately following surgery and return to normal activities with limited restrictions as soon as the next day!
• A cataract must be “ripe” before it can be removed.
  • Fact: While this may have been true in the past, now, as soon as cataracts begin to affect your vision and your daily life is the right time for surgery. For example, glare while driving or no longer being able to enjoy hobbies such as sewing or reading.
• Cataract surgery is difficult.
  • Fact: Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed procedure in the US and one of the safest, with over a 95% success rate. While there are always risks with surgery, cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, that no longer requires stitches or patches, in most cases.

Once you understand what a cataract is, how it is removed and how your vision may be improved with the latest options, your concern can turn into excitement! For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact our cataract experts at Key-Whitman Eye Center: (214) 220-3937.