Cataracts

Guide to eye cataracts

While sunblock protects your skin, sunglasses protect your eyes. Sunglasses should be worn by everyone who goes out in the sun, to protect the eyes from cataracts and the eventual blindness that arise as a result from them. Some people of retirement age have eyes that are clouded out; that is, the clear lens of the eye becomes opaque due to a change in structure of the protein found in those natural lenses. These are cataracts, and these changes happen as a reaction to solar UVB rays over time.

Cataracts Can Affect Everyone

No one is immune to cataracts. There is no such thing as a safe level of UVB exposure for the eyes. Even small doses of UV rays give you the risk of developing cataracts, which are the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Your best bet is to wear sunglasses all the time. Not merely decorative sunglasses, but sunglasses with real UV protection. Invest in quality sunglasses that have UV filters.

Good eye care is essential for those over 50. In order to accomplish this, there are some precautions to take to reduce your risk of ocular damage. First and foremost, you need to have at least one eye exam per year. Your ophthalmologist will check your vision to see if you need it corrected, but will also inspect for other diseases that may have developed in the eyes.

Other Eye Problems

Your skin, hair and joints change with age; your eyes also change as you get older. Some other major eye problems that come with aging are presbyopia, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Some of these conditions can be cured and some cannot. Good eye care can minimize the effects of some conditions.

Developed cataracts are now considered a normal consequence of aging. Cataract surgery is the accepted care for the condition, and is widely performed. Cataracts are the best handled early, so talk to your ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.

When you look at the eye conditions many people face after 50, it indicates exactly how important eye care is, and how a vital part of good eye care is seeing your ophthalmologist regularly. If it has been more than a year since you had an eye assessment, contact your eye care professional today.