August is National Cataract Awareness Month

August is National Cataract Awareness Month. Cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye and the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 55. Over half of all Americans will develop cataracts by the age of 70.

Each year, nearly 2 million people undergo successful cataract surgery to restore clear vision. It’s one of the most common operations performed in the United States, yet many suffering from cataracts avoid treatment.

Cataracts develop over years, so gradual changes in vision often become the “new normal” and go ignored longer than they should.

Symptoms may include:

• Blurry vision
• Colors that appear faded
• Halos or glare around lights
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Double vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensation of “film” in one’s vision
• Frequent changing or cleaning of glasses
• Difficulty driving or reading

At Virginia Eye Consultants, we have pioneered advanced technologies that make the procedure safe and comfortable with a fast recovery time. Cataract surgery usually takes less than fifteen minutes and patients can go back to their normal activities the next day.

Returning to an active lifestyle is one of the primary benefits of cataract surgery. A recent study showed that cataract surgery can also reduce a patient’s risk of breaking a hip in a fall.

A cataract usually cannot be viewed from outside of the eye and must be diagnosed during an eye examination. If you’re age 60 or older, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years.

We invite you to call and learn about laser cataract surgery and our LifeStyle Lens^® cataract procedures. Click here or Call 1(800) 321-EYES (3937) now to schedule your consultation with one of our surgeons and learn about your options to eliminate cataracts.