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Cataracts, caused
by chemical changes in the lens, will cloud all or part of the normally
clear lens within your eye. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision
loss.
Cause: Advancing age, heredity, injury,
or disease.
Symptoms: Blurred or hazy vision; appearance
of spots in front of the eyes; increased sensitivity to glare or
the feeling of having a film over the eyes. (Your optometrist can
diagnose a cataract and monitor its development and prescribe changes
in eyeglasses or contact lenses to maintain good vision.)
What you can do: Don't smoke and avoid
over-exposure to sunlight. Cigarettes and ultraviolet (UV) light
produce free radicals and may play a role in cataract development,
according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic.
Good News: More than 95 percent of
people who have cataracts removed end up with better vision.
At high-risk: About half of Americans between the ages of 65 and
75 have cataracts to some degree.
With life expectancy figures continuing to climb, managing cataracts
successfully can be essential for people to live healthy, happy,
and productive lives. By performing a regular, comprehensive eye
exam, your optometrist can successfully detect cataracts. Then,
your optometrist can treat cataracts in conjunction with your other
health care providers.
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