How Do You Prevent Cataracts?

June is Cataract Awareness month, so I wanted to take a moment to let you know a little more about this important subject.

Cataracts are essentially a cloudiness of the lens of the eye. Normally they occur later in life after a buildup or clumping of protein has developed over time. While age is the main cause of cataract development, there are other risk factors that are entirely preventable which could reduce the likelihood of developing cataracts later in life.

First of all, nutrition is extremely important to your vision. Certain anti-oxidants are currently being studied as a contributor to the prevention of cataracts. Diabetes, of which certain types are preventable through a healthy lifestyle, can be another precursor to cataracts.

Also, make sure you take care to protect your eyes from UV rays. Because we are in the midst of summer vacation, protection against UV rays is more important than ever. Be sure you are wearing polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure.

Still, you can take care to protect your eyes and eat healthy but develop cataracts anyway. If this is the case, surgery can be performed to remove the cataracts and restore vision. The key is to work to prevent cataracts from developing, and if they do develop, seek the treatment needed to remove them safely and restore vision. Be sure you schedule regular exams with your optometrist (me!) to monitor your vision and catch any sign of cataracts before they progress too far.