June is
almost over, and whether you are off from school, going on vacation, or working
during these warm months, the staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley truly
hopes that summer is treating you well. (It goes without saying, but we also
hope that you are treating your eyes well.) Are your sunglasses and eyeglasses clean and
up-to-date (prescription-wise)? Do you have enough saline solution for your contact lenses? We
hope so.
As we are in
the eye care business, we must honestly and responsibly address a serious issue
– particularly before June finishes up after Sunday. You see, this month has been officially named by Prevent Blindness America as
Cataract Awareness Month. You have probably heard the word “cataract,” but do
you know what it means? Generally, a cataract is a clouding of the lens, which
blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Having been around since
Ancient Rome (yes, that long ago) cataract is the most common cause of blindness.
For
our readers over the age of 40, that is when the risk of getting cataract
begins, and there are
over 24 million Americans who suffer from the condition. Genetics can also play
into one’s chances of getting cataract. Has anyone in your family had cataract?
If so, be on guard. Lifestyle is also a factor; do you smoke? If so – quit (or
try to cut down). Radiation and exposure to ultraviolet light is also a cause
of cataract, so wear your sunglasses when necessary.
Symptoms of
cataract include: blurred or double vision, having trouble adjusting to
lighting in a room (it will seem either too bright or too dark), or actually
noticing a milky, yellowish spot in the pupil of your eye when you look in a
mirror.
Another
symptom of cataract is the need to change eyeglass prescriptions – often. But
one can only notice this if they make regular appointments with an optometrist…
It goes
without saying: keep tabs on your eyes. Schedule a
check-up for your vision. We know…we've said it before…but it bears
repeating (and repeating). Scheduling (and
keeping) those yearly appointments are not a cure
for anything, but any possible vision problems can be pinpointed and
addressed – sooner than later.
Remember,
as the saying goes “knowledge is power.” We hope some of the knowledge in this blog gives you the
power (and wisdom) to take care of your eyes.
Thanks for
reading. Be safe…and keep your sites on healthy vision.
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