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® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers®’ are trained caregivers who help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

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

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services, clearly demonstrating Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

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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