June is Cataract Awareness Month

Senior Care in Winchester City VA

Cataracts are an eye condition that affects many seniors every year.  June is observed as Cataract Awareness Month to help spread awareness about this treatable condition.  Cataracts can severely impact a senior’s vision, but many may not know that cataracts are easily treated and vision can be retained.  Seniors with untreated cataracts my find that their vision impairment prevents them from doing the things they enjoy and lowers their quality of life.  If you have a loved one at risk for cataracts, encourage them during the month of June to take these steps to prevent and treat cataracts.

Know the Risk Factors

While age is certainly a risk factor for cataracts, there are other factors that can also increase a senior’s risk for developing cataracts.  These include sun damage, diabetes, other eye diseases, using steroid medications, genetics or family history, frequently getting radiation treatments or x-rays of the head, having a vitrectomy, and having an eye injury.

Get Regular Eye Exams

During an eye exam, a doctor can identify cataracts and explain treatment options to your loved one.  For more advanced cases, surgery may be recommended.  However, many seniors find that they are able to manage their cataracts and delay surgery for several years.  Talking to an eye doctor can help your loved one to decide if surgery is right for them.

Know the Symptoms

When your loved one is aware of the symptoms of cataracts, they may be able to identify them and know when to call their doctor.  With cataracts, your loved one may experience blurry or cloudy vision, double vision, difficulty driving at night, glare from the sun or other light that is uncomfortable, difficulty doing normal activities because of vision impairment, and frequent changes to their glasses prescription.

Take the Steps to Prevent Cataracts

While cataracts can’t be completely prevented, it is possible to slow their development.  Encourage your loved one to do this by quitting smoking, wearing a hat and/or sunglasses in the sun, not using tanning booths, eating a healthy, balanced diet, avoiding steroid medications if possible, and managing their diabetes properly.

Be Informed About Surgery and Other Treatments

Doctors usually only recommend surgery if vision impairment and vision loss is lowering a senior’s quality of life.  So, if your senior loved one has cataracts, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have to have surgery.  Some people can manage their cataracts by using glasses or contact lenses.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional senior care in Winchester City, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 369-6677. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities

Source:  http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/default.htm

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Julie McCormick, Co-Owner

Co-Owner at LivinRite Home Care

LivinRite is a Medicare certified agency based in Manassas, VA. Since 2003 we have been committed to providing the best home health care available. Our company was started by a registered nurse who still owns and operates the company today. Julie McCormick and Brendan McCormick are co-owners and founders of LivinRite Home Health Services. Between the two of them comes over 35 years of home health care experience. Julie is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in Emergency Medicine, Cardiac Critical Care, Oncology & Infusion Services.

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