Cataract Awareness Month in NY

NY Cataract Surgeons Satish Modi, M.D. and Andreas Wolter, M.D. of Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, New York discussed cataract awareness in the aging population. “Today’s cataract patient is as often someone in their 50’s as it is someone in their 70’s-people just don’t want their lifestyle and activities limited by cataract development,” noted Dr. Wolter. “It has now been more than a year since we brought bladeless laser cataract surgery to the NY Hudson Valley region. With the availability of bladeless laser cataract surgery along with lens implants that can correct astigmatism and near vision focusing presbyopia problems after cataract surgery we have a lot to offer patients to help maintain their active lifestyles,” commented Dr. Modi.

Today, it seems as if virtually everyone knows someone who has a cataract or has had cataract surgery and lens implants. This is probably because some 25 million people age 40 and older have cataracts- a 19 percent increase from 2000. Further, more than half of all Americans over 65 have some degree of cataract development. In fact cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss among seniors. 

Patients may not know that a cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of vision. Cataracts are not a growth or a film over the eye. For many patients cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision. The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.

“What many people do not realize is that the poor vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline. Further, the challenges reduced vision creates in terms of mobility and safety can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery has an important place in securing senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state,” said Dr. Modi.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, bladeless laser cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.