Seniors and Cataracts: Detection and Support 

Edmonton Senior Health  |  July 18, 2023

Cataracts: Getting Seniors the Help They Need in Edmonton, AB

Seniors and Cataracts | There are preventive measures seniors can take that may deter cataracts from developing.

Cataracts most commonly affect seniors, especially those over the age of 80. Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, affecting the retina’s ability to interpret and transmit light. When the brain receives a cloudy signal, vision becomes blurred.

Edmonton Seniors and Cataracts: Who is at risk?

The causes of cataracts can vary. As mentioned above, some can be present at birth. In adults, some cataracts are caused by ultraviolet light exposure, and some are due to an eye injury. Cataracts can also form after eye surgery or as a result of diabetes. Some reports link smoking, alcohol consumption, sustained exposure to sunlight, and steroid usage to cataracts.

When cataracts develop due to aging, as most do, they are most commonly a result of the proteins in the eye’s lens, which distorts vision. Cataracts can affect one or both eyes. Sometimes small cataracts only affect partial vision. However, cataracts continue to grow over time, causing multiple vision problems.

Signs of cataracts developing in Seniors:

• Blurred vision
• Difficulty reading
• Poor vision at night
• Halos around lights and sensitivity to bright lights
• Discolouration of the eye’s lens – usually yellow/brown
• Brown tinge to things you can see and colours seem dull
• Inability to tell the difference between blue, purple, and black colours (in advanced stages)

Cataract Diagnosis and Treatment and Prevention

Physicians recommend comprehensive eye exams every two years for adults 60 and older. Annual eye exams can detect early signs of cataracts, and other diseases that affect the eyes (e.g., glaucoma, macular degeneration). For cataracts in the early stages, prescription glasses may help alleviate some of the early symptoms. In other cases, surgery is needed to replace the old lens with an artificial lens.

While many cataracts are caused by the simple wear and tear on the eye’s lens as people age, there are preventative measures one can take that may deter cataracts from developing. These include:

• Refrain from smoking, drinking, and steroid use (unless steroids are deemed necessary by your doctor to treat a medical condition)
• Wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet light when outdoors
• Make sure your diet contains green, leafy vegetables and other foods that have high levels of antioxidants

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a wider range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like, Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, MB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

References
The National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Cataracts: signs, symptoms, and diagnosis. Retrieved on July 5, 2012, from agingcare.com/Articles/
What-is-a-Cataract-age-related-eye-diseases-108282.htm

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