Cataracts

Our eyes are very important to our overall health; we rely on our vision tremendously to get us through each and every day.  The health of our eyes should be taken seriously in order to maintain our vision as best as possible for the longest time we possibly can.  Once you begin to lose your vision it can be very devastating to both you and those around you.  Total Home Health has a program that will fit your needs related to having cataracts and your overall vision health.  Our professional staff will work diligently with you so you can continue to see your life unfold in front of you now and in the future.

There may a time when you notice your vision has become cloudy, consistently over a period of time.  It may feel like you have something in your eye blocking your vision that just won’t go away.  It will be very annoying and at this point, you most likely have a cataract.  A cataract can simply be explained as a clouding of the lens of your eye that is normally clear.  If you ask someone with a cataract to explain what their vision is like, they will probably tell you that what they see is similar to looking through a foggy window.

Clouded vision caused by cataracts can be detrimental to your health and cause a decline in how well you complete the tasks of your normal daily routine.  Cataracts can make it increasingly difficult for you to read, drive a car (especially at night), and even see the faces of the ones you love.  The majority of cataracts will develop gradually, and thankfully they do not completely disturb your vision in the early stages while they are developing.  Dealing with cataracts in the early stages can be done by using stronger light more often and wearing eyeglasses to complete your normal tasks.  Once cataracts develop enough to interfere more greatly with your normal activities, surgery may be required to remove the cataracts for your overall health and safety.  The good thing is…cataract surgery is a routine procedure that is generally safe and effective.

            Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

ü  Clouded, blurry, or vision that is dim

ü  More difficulty seeing at night

ü  Increased sensitivity to light and glare

ü  Complaints of seeing “halos” around lights

ü  Frequent changes in the prescription of your eyeglasses

ü  Colors that appear faded or more yellow

ü  Double vision that occurs only in one eye

As cataracts begin to develop, at first they may affect only a small part of the lens of your eye and you probably won’t even be aware of any vision loss.  However, once the cataract grows larger more clouding will occur that will ultimately lead to you experiencing more noticeable signs and symptoms similar to the ones listed above.  Total Home Health recommends that you make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as you notice any vision changes, because the quicker you get treatment…the better the outcome will be for your vision health.

            Causes of Cataracts

ü  Aging or injury to the tissue that makes up the lens of your eye

ü  Inherited genetic disorders can increase your risk

ü  Other conditions of the eye

ü  Medical conditions such as diabetes, trauma, or past eye surgery

ü  Long-term use of steroid medications, such as prednisone

Once you seek medical attention related to your clouded vision, you will be informed of your options for treatment depending upon the extent to which your vision is affected.  There are a few different types of cataracts and your provider will most likely be able to distinguish which one is affecting you in order to keep you well informed of your condition.  Frequent vision exams will most likely part of your future if you experience cataract(s) in order to be proactive and catch any more vision changes before they cause you more problems.

            Risks for Cataracts

ü  Increasing age

ü  Diabetes

ü  Drinking alcohol in excess

ü  Excess exposure to sunlight

ü  Family history

ü  High blood pressure

ü  Obesity

ü  Previous eye injury or surgery

ü  Smoking

If you fall into any one of those risk categories above, be proactive and work to incorporate changes in your lifestyle sooner than later.  Even the smallest of changes could make all the difference in your overall vision health down the road.  Total Home Health will be by your side throughout your care with us and our professionals will help you adjust your lifestyle to deal with your cataracts and work to prevent further worsening.  Seeing is believing and we want you to see for yourself how well Total Home Health will fit into your lifestyle, enroll today!