Posted by: Carolinas Center for Sight in Cataract Surgery
Approximately 24 million Americans age 40 and over have cataracts, which cause cloudy, blurry or dim vision and often develop with advancing age. Untreated, a cataract can progress until there is complete loss of vision, making cataracts the leading cause of blindness worldwide. This June, Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. is observing National Cataract Awareness Month by sharing three things everyone should know about cataracts and how they are treated.
As everyone grows older, the lenses of their eyes thicken and become cloudier. Eventually, they may find it more difficult to read street signs and drive at night. Colors may seem dull. Your glasses don’t seem to work and you need more light to read. These symptoms may signal cataracts, which affect about 70 percent of people by age 75. Fortunately, cataracts can be corrected with surgery. Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. specializes in medical and surgical eye care and performs over 3,000 cataract surgeries each year to restore vision to patients in the Pee Dee.
The following are facts people should know about cataracts:
Age is not the only risk factor for cataracts. Though most everyone will develop cataracts with age, recent studies show that lifestyle and behavior can influence when and how severely you develop cataracts. Diabetes, extensive exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and certain ethnicities have all been linked to increased risk of cataracts. If you have any of these risk factors or suspect that your reduced vision may be caused by cataracts, call Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. at 843-664-9393 today to schedule an appointment for a cataract evaluation. Our doctors will perform an extensive examination, discuss the benefits and risks of eye surgery and determine if you qualify for cataract surgery.
Cataracts cannot be prevented, but you can lower your risk. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and brimmed hats when outside can help. Several studies suggest that eating more vitamin C-rich foods may delay how fast cataracts form. Also, avoid smoking cigarettes, which have been shown to increase the risk of cataract development.
Surgery may help improve more than just your vision. During cataract surgery, the natural clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL, which should improve your vision significantly. Patients have a variety of lenses to choose from, each with different benefits. Monofocal lenses have a single focal point to correct distance vision. Premium lenses include the Symfony® Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Multifocal lens implant that can improve your vision near, intermediate and far. The Symfony EDOF Multifocal Toric (astigmatism-correcting lens) implant improves vision near, intermediate and far in addition to correcting astigmatism. Studies have shown that cataract surgery can improve quality of life and reduce the risk of falling.
Call Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. today for a cataract evaluation: 843-664-9393.
