Why Seniors Should Get Tested for Cataracts

Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  August 30, 2018

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Eye Health and Cataracts

Cataracts | Should you go for a cataract exam? If cataracts aren’t treated properly, and promptly, they worsen and can lead to blindness. Preventative examinations and proper medical care may avert the loss of vision. When eyeglasses don’t help and you experience vision that is blurred or doubled or are challenged doing normal activities, book an eye exam.

Remember, if you are having problems, you aren’t alone. Cataracts are a problem for over 24 million people.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are especially prevalent in older populations. They prevent the proper amount of light from entering the eyes and limit visual acuity. Cataracts aren’t painful, but they cause big problems driving.

Night vision is usually affected, with a blurring or halo effect appearing around oncoming lights. Colours are no longer vivid, seem lacklustre and hard to recognize, even while wearing eyeglasses. Untreated, an adult’s eyes may become noticeably cloudy and discoloured to others

What triggers cataracts, other than aging? We aren’t sure, but there are known contributing factors.

Contributing Factors of Cataracts:

• Smoking
• Exposure to UV rays
• Hereditary factors
• Diabetes
• Using steroids for extended periods
• Eye injury, specific diseases, or inflammation
• Events that occur before birth, such as an illness the mother has when pregnant

How to Protect Seniors from Cataracts

So, what can you do? How can you be protected from cataracts? Doctors recommend wearing sunglasses with UV protection, quitting smoking, exercising, and eating leafy green veggies. Make appointments annually with your doctor so cataracts can be detected and treated early.

Cataracts, Surgery and Recovery

Surgery to remove cataracts is commonplace in our country, with over 2 million procedures performed annually, with a fantastic 95% success rate. The good news is that patient recovery is typically just a few days, although you’ll need about a month for complete healing. During recovery, your friends and family might want to help out with their loved ones.

This is a good time to suggest a professional caregiver, as well. A patient who can live independently, with some light assistance with activities will be happier during recovery. When an adult receives help with housekeeping, meals or shopping, a sense of competence is maintained. A caregiver can also provide transport to follow-up medical appointments!

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for many families when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. 

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Respite Care, Overnight Care, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live.

We are proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada.

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