How to Avoid Cataracts

Cataracts are something that most of the population will suffer from as they age. Past the age of 80, virtually every adult will either have cataracts or will have had them removed. However, there are plenty of things we can do to prevent their formation from occurring earlier than they should. Cataract prevention and cataract treatment go hand-in-hand with good eye care. So whether you’re looking for ways to help prevent them from forming or you’ve been diagnosed and want them monitored or treated, it’s essential to partner with a good ophthalmologist for the ultimate in eye health.

The 6 Steps to Cataract Prevention

• Cataract risk factors
• Cataract prevention

Cataract risk factors

Many factors can increase the risk of developing cataracts. As already mentioned, age is one of the greatest, with those over 50 requiring regular monitoring.The following are other reasons that the chances of cataract development become greater:

• Being diagnosed with diabetes
• Smoking
• Excessive sunlight exposure
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Previous eye surgery
• Previous eye inflammation or eye injury
• Long-term use of corticosteroids

Cataract prevention

Reading the above list, it’s obvious that there are some things that you have no control over. While strategies to reduce the ones you can do have yet to be clinically proven, many esteemed eye doctors believe that the following may be helpful.

1. Give up smoking: Not only to help reduce the chances of cataracts but for every other aspect of your health as well.
2. Reduce alcohol consumption: it’s believed that too much alcohol can be a factor in cataract formation.
3. Follow a healthy diet: This will help keep your weight under control and reduce the chances of developing diabetes.
4. Manage your health problems: Eye health is directly linked to other medical conditions. If you’ve been diagnosed, it’s essential to be strict about taking prescribed medications and following the advice of your physician.
5. Wear sunglasses: This is believed to help slow the formation of cataracts. They should be of high quality and be able to block UVB rays.

Additionally, the most important step to cataract prevention is to undergo regular eye tests. That way, any cataracts will be spotted early, monitored, and treated when the time is right.

Cataract Treatment

• All about cataract surgery

All about cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is advanced and effective, with treatment being carried out on an outpatient basis and most people can return home the same day. Your ophthalmologist will advise when he or she thinks the time is right—this is one condition where you don’t need to rush into treatment. This is because the formation of a cataract doesn’t damage the eye. However, it does impact vision and will, if not treated, eventually cause dramatic or even complete loss of sight. The treatment involves the removal of the diseased lens and replacing it with an artificial one. This is known as an intraocular lens or IOL.There are many different types of these, including those that mimic the sight-enhancement offered by eyeglass lenses. IOLs have dramatically advanced over recent years, meaning that not only is the procedure simple and quick to perform but that, in the vast majority of cases, people achieve incredible results. While some people might need to continue to wear corrective lenses for some activities post-cataract operation, many benefit from a life free from glasses or contacts. Whichever is the case, the procedure is highly successful at preventing what has, historically, caused major issues for large swathes of the population.

Suffer from Cataracts? Contact the West Boca Eye Center Today

Dr. Brent Bellotte, head clinician at the WBEC, is a world-leading ophthalmologist who’s been pivotal at bringing some of the most cutting-edge cataract treatments to his patients. He’s renowned for not only treating age-related cataracts, but also the rarer conditions seen in younger patients, including children and babies.Find out more about the treatments on offer at https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/cataract-surgery/

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