Eye Associates Of Bucks County

Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye, older adults, particularly those over 60, are at a greater risk of developing cataracts.

Cataracts don’t happen suddenly. They are a gradual process, whereby you aren’t aware you’re suffering from them right away. The first sign is that your vision starts to get blurry, hazy, or much less vibrant. Then you may have difficulty driving, reading, or performing other everyday activities. Surgery is the only cure.

Cataracts affect a little more than half of all Americans who are older than 80, says the National Eye Institute – even though people can start developing them as early as age 40. Most cataracts are related to age; however, cataracts can result from an eye injury or after you have undergone surgery for glaucoma.

Cataracts are characterized by cloudy or blurred vision, but there are also a whole host of other symptoms, such as:

• Sensitivity to glare and light.
• Increasing difficulty with vision at night.
• Need for brighter light when reading and performing other activities.
• Seeing “halos” appear around lights.
• Fading or yellowing of colors.
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions or contact lens prescriptions.

The symptoms you may be experiencing aren’t all exclusive to cataracts. They could be signs of other issues, which is why an annual exam is so important.

While you can’t always prevent all instances of cataracts, there are steps you can take to reduce risk such as:

• Wearing sunglasses and brimmed hats outdoors
• Nixing the smoking
• Eating fruits and vegetables, like spinach, collard greens, and kale
• Get a dilated eye exam every two years once you hit 60.

Do you think you have cataracts? Contact Eye Associates of Bucks County if you are concerned you may be developing cataracts or need an annual exam. Contact us today to book your appointment at  1-833-921-6300.