Seniors and Cataracts: Detection and Support 

North Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  July 18, 2023

Cataracts: Getting Seniors the Help They Need in North Vancouver and West Vancouver, BC

What do you know about seniors and cataracts? Cataracts most commonly affect seniors, especially those over the age of 80. Although rare, there are cases in which babies are born with congenital cataracts. The condition occurs when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, affecting the retina’s ability to properly interpret and transmit signals of light to the part of the brain that governs sight. When the brain receives a cloudy signal, vision becomes hazy or blurred.

There are preventative measures seniors can take that may deter cataracts from developing.

The Facts About Seniors and Cataracts

Who is at risk for cataracts?

The causes of cataracts can vary. Some cataract types are caused by ultraviolet light exposure, while others are a previous eye injury. Cataracts can form after eye surgery or as a result of diabetes. Some reports link cataracts to smoking, alcohol consumption, sustained exposure to sunlight, and steroid use.

Seniors and Cataracts

When cataracts develop in one’s mature years, they are commonly the result of proteins in the eye’s lens that bunch together and distort vision. Cataracts can affect one or both eyes. Sometimes small cataracts only affect partial vision. However, generally, cataracts continue to grow larger over time, causing multiple vision problems.

Signs of cataracts developing:

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

Diagnosis and Treatment and Prevention

Those in the medical field recommend comprehensive eye exams every two years for adults 60 years and older. These types of exams can detect early signs of cataracts, as well as 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.

Seniors and Cataracts: Preventable Measures

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® can talk with seniors to ensure they understand the warning signs and symptoms of cataracts. Encourage a visit to a vision specialist if there is a concern. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the chances of treating conditions that affect the eyes as people age.

The Best Senior Home Assistance Care in North and West Vancouver is Comfort Keepers®

Our senior home care agency offers in-home care focusing on aging in place. Our services include dementia care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, and palliative care. Comfort Keepers can assist seniors with living transition services, personal care, companionship care, and more! 

Quality and Accredited Elderly Care: Happier, Healthier, and at Home with 24/7 Senior Care Opportunities!

Do you need a home care solution for yourself or a loved one? Have you been thinking about retirement homes and their alternatives as a solution? Comfort Keepers® enables seniors to maintain happy, healthy lives in the comfort of their own homes. In-home care services are available in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the surrounding areas.

Comfort Keepers® is a Senior Care Agency That Can Make a Difference with Interactive Caregiving™

Our in-home caregivers ensure our senior clients have the best quality of life. The Interactive Caregiving™ program ensures that a senior’s safety, nutrition, mental well-being, and everyday needs are met. This program brings joy and good health to each client’s home.

Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver Can Help with In-Home Elderly Care Services!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of a loved one we can help! Comfort Keepers offers 24-hour care and delivers top-quality and compassionate care for seniors.  We are dedicated to safety technology solutions that foster independence and enhance well-being.

Locally Owned and Operated Home Health Care Agency

Our care centers around companionship for seniors. Empathetic care originates from the soul and allows us to meet our client’s requirements. The seasoned in-home caregivers employed by Comfort Keepers are carefully chosen based on their empathetic qualities.  

Contact the Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver office at (604) 998-8806 to learn more about our unique in-home care solutions for seniors.

Comfort Keepers is an Accredited Senior Care Agency in North and West Vancouver, BC

Accreditation is a rigorous process that involves industry experts evaluating an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures. Comfort Keepers® North and West Vancouver has been awarded Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada. This achievement recognizes that Comfort Keepers® meets or exceeds the stringent quality standards for Home Care companies established by Accreditation Canada.

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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