The Truth About Cataract Treatments
There are actually few things in life that we can actually make sure about, and one of those things is getting older. Just as much as we hate it, there isn't any way to get around this, and once we age, our bodies undergo a range of changes, and not always for the higher. Among the most frequent problems often affiliated with old age is poor vision, often brought about by cataracts. This is a condition that affects millions of people all over the world, and unfortunately, it is not one that can be cured or reversed. But you will discover treatments for cataracts, and those that have this condition don't have to concern yourself with eventual blindness.
Cataracts are not something that develops overnight, and there are some steps you could take to slow the process, or perhaps prevent them from developing at all. Keep in mind, it is necessary to have regular eye exams, at least once every 2 years. When you get older, you could want to up this to once annually. Other things you may do to prevent cataracts, or at least slow their progression, include:
Protect your eyes from the sun: As nice as it is to be out on a hot, sunny day, the sun just isn't good for us. Not simply is it harmful to our skin, it can do a lot of damage to our eyes as well. If you're going to be out within the sun, make certain that you'll be wearing protective sunglasses, or at the very least, a hat with a wide brim that may help to keep your eyes shaded and protected against the sun.
Follow a healthy diet: Whether or not it is for our eyes or not, it is essential that most of us follow a healthy diet for our continued good health. Certain nutrients are good for eye health, and will help to slow the progression of cataracts. Several of the foods that should be included in our diets are foods that can be rich in vitamins A, C, D and E, and additionally beta carotene and Omega-3 fatty acids. Some foods that should be within your diet include broccoli, sweet potatoes, fish, dairy products and nuts.
Don't smoke: This is a very unhealthy habit anyway, and keratoconus we all determine what smoking can do to our lungs. But did you also know that smoking can cause cataracts to develop even faster than normal? By quitting smoking, people are substantially reducing their risk of ever developing cataracts within the first place.
If you already have cataracts, there are actually things you can do to prevent the condition from worsening. This could be as simple as obtaining a new prescription for your eye glasses. You could just need to have an anti-glare coating, or magnifying glasses. If glasses do not help the matter, then unfortunately, the only option left is cataract surgery.
The surgery itself is a fairly simple procedure, one that is performed thousands of times daily around the globe. It takes less than a half per hour, and then, you'll find a few days of recuperation time for you to follow. It's one of the most common kinds of surgery performed in hospitals, and it is extremely successful for restoring vision. Basically, the surgery involves removing the cloudy lens of the eye, and replacing it with a new artificial lens. Should you have cataracts in both eyes, there will be two separate procedures, usually about four to eight weeks apart. This isn't a dangerous surgery, and it's the only way to get rid of cataracts and start seeing things clearly again. Although there isn't any actual cataract cure, there are lots of ways to avoid and treat this vision problem. Should you have cataracts, you will need surgery, although the condition won't worsen if you wait to make up your thoughts.
