Know the Symptoms and Treatments for Cataracts

June is Cataract Awareness Month: Lighthouse Guild Wants You to Protect Your Eyes

New York (June 1, 2021) — Cataracts are a common eye condition that often affects people as they age. In fact, more than half of Americans age 80 and older have a cataract or had cataract surgery. With symptoms of blurry, dim vision that gets worse over time, cataracts can cause blindness if left untreated.

June is Cataract Awareness Month, and Lighthouse Guild is spreading the word that early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve vision and offering tips to help people recognize symptoms so they don’t delay in getting effective treatment.

“Early intervention is key,” says Dr. Bruce Rosenthal, Chief of Low Vision Services, Lighthouse Guild. “The best way to know if your symptoms are caused by cataracts or another eye disorder is to see an eye care professional for a vision test and comprehensive dilated eye exam.”

Know the symptoms and treatments
A cataract is a clouding of a lens in your eye. Leading causes are age, smoking, and diabetes, with increased risk from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight and a family history of cataracts. Cataracts may also develop after eye surgery or an eye injury.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Seeing faded colors
• Glare, with headlights, lamp, or sunlight appearing too bright
• Seeing a halo around lights
• Worse vision at night
• Double vision/seeing multiple images
• Having to change your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription often

“The early symptoms of cataracts may improve with new glasses, antiglare sunglasses, magnifying lenses, or brighter lighting,” Dr. Rosenthal explains. “But if you don’t see enough improvement in your vision, you may need surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens.” Surgery needed on both eyes is usually done separately, about four weeks apart.”

About Lighthouse Guild
Lighthouse Guild is dedicated to providing exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. We provide coordinated care for eye health, vision rehabilitation and behavioral health as well as related services. Our podcast series, “On Tech & Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts” offers information and insights about technological innovations that are tearing down barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit Lighthouseguild.org.

Source: Lighthouse Guild
Press Contact:  Bryan Dotson, Manners Dotson Group
917-796-8632, bdotson@mannersdotson.com