“When patients think about how
cataracts affect them they typically relate their symptoms to complaints like
blurry vision, cloudy vision, glare, difficulty night driving and other vision
symptoms,” shared Francis D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. “But, what we consider for each
and every patient with cataracts is that poor vision
in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline.
Further, the challenges reduced vision creates in terms of mobility and safety
can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip
fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery and lens implants has an important place in securing senior health, well being,
mobility, safety and mental state,” Dr. D’Ambrosio explained.
August is noted as Cataract
Awareness Month. Today there are some 20 million
Americans age 40 and older have cataracts and more than half of all Americans over
65 have some degree of cataract development. In fact cataracts are a leading
cause of vision loss among seniors.
What is a Cataract?
A
cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays
from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of
vision. Cataracts are not a growth or a film over the eye. Initially, a
cataract may start out slowly and have little effect on vision. Over time as
the cataract becomes denser, so does its effect on vision.
Symptoms of Cataracts
The
most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring
of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor
night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and frequent changes in
glasses or contact lens prescriptions.
When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with your
comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated surgically. Cataract surgery
is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United
States. Today, we have a full range of lens implants available that allow us to
correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision focusing
problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring
bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.
If
you or someone you know has questions about cataracts, cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery or lens implants please schedule an eye examination at
D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or
facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate
treatment plan.
D'Ambrosio
Eye Care is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union
Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton,
Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main
Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the
greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts.
