Prevent Blindness is once again using its platform to promote eye safety, by declaring the month of June as Cataracts Awareness Month. As VMAIL previously reported, the organization states that more than 25 million Americans are estimated to have cataract, a clouding of the eye's lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. While cataracts are caused by changes related to aging, other factors such as the use of steroids, diabetes, prolonged exposure to UV and metabolic disorders may also contribute to their formation.

  

While there is no proven way to prevent cataracts as of yet, the National Eye Institute (NEI) urges people to make some lifestyle changes that can delay the progression of cataracts. Maintaining a healthy weight, opting for more nutritious dietary choices, learning more about your family’s eye history and of course, making those annual doctor’s appointments, are all measures one can take for healthier eyesight overall. The NEI also urges people to wear protective eyewear when it’s necessary and to make a habit out of wearing sunglasses in order to protect the eyes from UV Rays.

  

Though cataracts are not preventable, they are treatable. According to Your Sight Matters, cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgeries with a success rate of 95 percent. Over three million Americans undergo cataract surgery annually, making it one of the most common surgeries in the U.S. During the procedure, your doctor removes the deteriorated lens and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens or IOL. In fact, according to Your Sight Matters, the entire surgery lasts only about 20 minutes, and most people can resume normal activities fairly rapidly.

 

In an effort to promote awareness to their patients outside the exam room, ECPs across the nation have shared various educational posts to their followers on social media. Here is a small compilation of some of those posts.