Cataracts affect almost 20.5 million people in the United States over the age of 40, though they can occur in children and younger adults. Don’t put if off any longer, schedule your comprehensive eye exam today with Lake Nona Eye Care or call us at 407-658-9990. Risk factors for younger adults for cataracts include;
Here are a few facts and myths about cataracts from our friends at AARP
Myth: Cataracts are unrelated to overall health.
Fact: “There are multiple links between systemic disease and the formation of cataracts,” says Brian Proctor, D.O., an ophthalmologist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, Illinois. Cataracts are a known side effect of diabetes and high blood pressure, for instance. The formation of cataracts is also associated with the use of steroid medications.
Myth: It’s normal to see halos around lights.
Fact: Along with cloudy vision, halos are a classic symptom of cataracts, says Proctor. Four out of five people in the AARP-Alcon study who had cataract surgery found it easier to drive afterward, both during the daytime and at night. (Halos can be a sign of corneal disease, too; if you’re seeing them, be sure to have your eyes checked.)
Myth: Cataracts always require surgery.
Fact: The decision to have a cataract taken out should be based on whether it’s limiting your vision and quality of life. “For people in certain occupations, such as an architect or a truck driver, even a little loss of vision interferes with what they do on a daily basis,” Proctor says, “while other people may be happy to wait because they’re seeing all they need to see.”
Myth: Cataracts are inevitable.
Fact: Not necessarily. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, according to the National Eye Institute. That means nearly half have clear vision. “There’s clearly a genetic component,” says David McCartney, M.D., chair of the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Texas Tech University. “We all have patients ages 80 or 90 who will never need cataract surgery.” Wear your sunglasses! It may help slow cataract growth.
Myth: There’s nothing you can do to slow the development of cataracts.
Fact: Cataracts are a natural part of aging; however, you can protect your eyes by always donning shades when you’re out in the sun — summer or winter. “Chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure can help cataracts grow faster,” Proctor says. Some data suggests that nutritional supplements containing zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin — such as those formulated to lower the risk for macular degeneration — may also help slow cataract growth. “The evidence is mixed, but there’s little risk to trying it,” McCartney says.