What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts

Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  June 30, 2020

What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts | Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and are quite common in seniors. In fact, more than half of seniors 80 or older have had or will have cataracts. As someone who is caring for a senior – or even someone who is a senior – you might be wondering what you need to know about cataracts how senior care can help. Here are some answers to the most common questions people have.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract happens when the lens part of the eye becomes cloudy. This can happen simply due to aging – as the proteins in the lens start to deteriorate – or due to trauma of the eye. In a healthy eye, the lens is clear, allowing us to see well. However, when a cataract forms, the cloudy lens makes it more difficult to see clearly. Cataracts tend to develop slowly over time, and someone with cataracts might start to notice their vision getting worse and worse.

How To Recognize Cataracts in Seniors

Cloudy, dim, or blurry vision are the most common signs of a cataract. Things may appear to be tinted yellowish or brownish, and you could also experience halos around lights. You might be more sensitive to light and have trouble seeing in the dark. If left untreated, a cataract can sometimes even be seen visually, causing the pupil to become a cloudy white color.

Related Article: Vision Loss – Calgary (comfortkeepers.ca)

What Happens If You Have Cataracts?

Luckily, cataract surgery is available to fix cataracts. In cataract surgery, the doctor will remove your original lens and replace it with a new one, called an intraocular lens. This is an outpatient procedure and most people recover quite quickly, with any pain resolving in less than a week. With cataract surgery, the original cataract will not be able to return, since an entirely new lens has been placed.

#DYK – Eat your carrots. A daily dose of the vitamins and minerals found in melons, citrus fruit, carrots, spinach, and kale may help slow the progress
of age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma,
and cataracts. (Source: Seniors and Aging: Vision Care)

Can You Prevent Cataracts in Seniors?

While cataracts are very common in seniors, there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. Diabetes, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and high blood pressure all increase your risk, so making sure to eat well and take care of your body can help to prevent cataracts. Previous eye injury, surgery, or long term use of corticosteroid medications can increase risk as well. If other members of your family have had cataracts, your risk is higher, since it can be hereditary.

Additionally, remember to wear sunglasses when you’re in the sun, as excessive exposure to sunlight can increase the risk as well.

Comfort Keepers^® Can Help | What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts

If your loved one is losing their vision and needs assistance around the house, Comfort Keepers senior care services can help. We provide in-home caregiving services to help keep your loved one safe. If your loved one has recently had surgery – like cataract surgery – we can help with tasks around the house during their recovery so that they can focus on healing.

If you’re interested in learning more about senior care and working with Comfort Keepers Home Care, reach out to the Calgary, Alberta office today.

Bonus Article: Aging and Driving: Staying Safe and Keeping Independence

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