Are you at Risk for Cataracts?

CATARACT AWARENESS GUIDE An Infographic by SugarlandEyes.com Basic Info A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. What the eye may see would then appear blurry Iris Cornea Common symptoms of cataract include: Light Source -A painless blurring of vision - Glare, or light sensitivity - Poor night vision - Halos around lights - Double vision in one eye - Needing brighter light to read Difficulty with small print - Fading or yellowing of colors Pupil Lens NORMAL LENS Factors that may speed up cataract formation are: - Diabetes - Eye inflammation - Eye injury - Family history of cataracts -Long-term use of corticosteroids (taken by mouth) or certain other medications - Radiation exposure - Smoking - Surgery for another eye problem - Too much exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight) Light Source Clouded Lens LENS AFFECTED BY CATARACT Cataract in Numbers Adults ages 40 & up are experiencing a rise in cataracts impacting 25 MILLION people in the US 140 Present The incidence of cataracts in the United States has 19% risen 19% since 2000 alone Year 2000 According to Prevent Blindness America's Vision Problems in the U.S. report, more than half of all Americans are expected to develop cataracts by age U/ Preventing Cataract Have regular eye exams. 2 20100 Eye exams can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at their earliest stages. Ask your doctor how often you should have an eye exam. тOZ 2070 LPED 2050 РЕСГD 2040 EDFCZP 20/26 8 2020 11 Quit Smoking I QUIT! Ask your doctor for help to stop smok- ing. Medications, counseling and other strategies are available to help you. Wear Sunglasses Ultraviolet light from the sun may con- tribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors. Maintain a Healthy Weight If your current weight is a healthy one, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week. If you're overweight or obese, work to lose weight slowly by reducing your calorie intake and increasing the amount of exercise you get each day. HEALTHY! Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you're getting a lot of vitamins and nutri- ents. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants, which in theory could pre- vent damage to your eye's lens. Studies haven't proven that antioxidants in pill form can prevent cataracts. But fruits and vegetables have many proven health benefits and are a safe way to increase the amount of vitamins in your diet. Sources: http://www.eyecare2020.com/blog/2012/08/adults-aged-40-and-up-are-experiencing-a-rise-in-cataracts http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001996/ http://www.mayocliniccom/health/cataracts/DS00050/DSECTION=prevention