By Teresa Carr
Adams County Senior Council
Administrative Assistant
From seniorific.com – See Life Clearly Again! As we age, cataracts can cloud our vision, making daily tasks harder. But there’s good news for seniors! Cataract surgery is a safe, quick solution performed in an outpatient facility in usually less than 10 minutes with no shots, no stitches and no patches required. Healing is fast, so you can get back to enjoying life sooner.
How do I know if I have a Cataract? The only way to know for sure is to get a check up with an eye specialist. But odds are, if you are over 60 and have recently got a new pair of glasses that don’t work as good as you think they should, or you have lots of glare at night while driving, or see halos around lights at night, that you may have visually significant cataracts that need to be removed.
Outpatient Surgery. The procedure is rather simple. It involves emulsification of the cataractous lens of your eye with sound wave technology and replacement with a clear lens implant. Some doctors offer a choice of lens implants that are best suited for your needs. Today’s advanced multifocal intraocular lens implants offer even more freedom from glasses than traditional monofocal lens implants. These cutting-edge implants correct vision at all distances—near, far, and in between—often eliminating the need for glasses entirely.
If your eye-care professional has informed you that you are starting to get cataracts, or already have them, follow-up with the recommended surgeon and see life clearly again.
Dry Eye Problems – Dry, red, burning, irritated eyes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the eye doctor, but discomfort isn’t the only problem of dry eyes. Light sensitivity and blurred or fluctuating vision are common problems too, and worse yet, dry eyes are more likely to get scratched or infected, which could damage your vision permanently.
The reason people get dry eyes are because they either don’t produce enough tears to keep their eyes properly lubricated, or because they produce poor quality tears.
In some cases, dry eyes can be triggered by medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. It can also be brought on by age (tear production tends to diminish as we get older), eye conditions, eyelid problems, certain medications, environmental factors and even LASIK and cataract surgery. Dry eyes are also more common in women, especially after menopause.
Lifestyle Adjustments – The first step experts recommend in dealing with dry eyes is to check your lifestyle and surroundings for factors that might be contributing to the problem and make these adjustments:
· Avoid blowing air: Keep your eyes away from air vents, hair dryers, oscillating and ceiling fans and consider buying a home humidifier.
· Blink more: When you’re reading, watching television, or using a smartphone, tablet or computer, take frequent breaks because these activities cause you to blink less often.
· Avoid irritants: Avoid smoke-filled places and if you swim, wear goggles to cut down exposure to chemicals.
· Use moisture chamber eyeglasses: These goggles/glasses wrap around the sides of your face to seal off your eyes from wind, dust and other drying irritants. These are available in many styles, and some in the Airshield collection can be made with prescription lenses.
· Check your meds: Dozens of prescriptions and over the counter (OTC) drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, beta-blockers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and Parkinson’s medications can all cause dry eyes. If you’re taking any of these, ask your doctor about alternatives.
· Get more omega-3s: Studies show that eating more fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (or take a supplement) helps some people.
Just A Thought: “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. ~J. M. Barrie, A Window in Thrums, 1888
