Cataract is the world’s leading cause of blindness, accounting for approximately 42 percent of all cases of blindness in all nations. In the United States, more than 25 million Americans are estimated to have cataract. THE RISK OF CATARACT IS HIGHER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE DISEASE.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. The lens of the eye is located behind the pupil and the colored iris, and is normally transparent. Vision may become blurry or dim because the cataract stops light from properly passing through to the retina. Generally, a cataract does not cause pain, redness or tears.
Risk factors for cataracts include:
- Older age
- Long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes
- Inflammation in the eye
- Hereditary influences
- Events before birth, such as German measles in the mother
- Long-term steroid use
- Eye injuries
- Eye diseases
- Smoking
Most cataract cases in the United States are in older adults, but children may also develop pediatric cataracts. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts in a child can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (develop after birth). Without treatment, cataracts in young children can cause poor development of the visual pathway between the brain and the eye, leading to vision impairment. Therefore, diagnosing and treating cataracts early in children is critical to promoting normal vision development.
Although cataract is the world’s leading cause of vision loss, it is an eye disease that can be treated successfully with access to quality eyecare services. We strongly encourage everyone to educate themselves on cataract and what services are available to see clearly today and in the years to come.”
How To Prevent Cataracts?
Being outside in the sun may feel great, especially in the summer, but you need to protect your eyes. UV rays from the sun can lead to the early development of cataracts as well as other damage to your eyes
Some steps you can take now to protect your eyes and slow the progression from the formation of cataracts is:
- wear UV blocking sunglasses
- take nutritional supplements,
- quit smoking, and
- learn your family health history
- wear a wide-brimmed hat
We understand how precious your vision is, and one thing that can help keep your eyes healthy is a comprehensive eye exam at least once every year. It’s difficult to stress how vital annual eye exams are. Still, when it comes to detecting and diagnosing cataracts, they make a difference—seeing your eye doctor once a year allows them to monitor cataract progression and take action once cataract surgery becomes necessary.
Schedule your family’s eye exams today to get started with monitoring the health and risks for their eyes.
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(909) 982-0100 1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784
