Seniors Need Greater Cataract Awareness

Seniors need a greater awareness of cataracts and their impact on overall functioning because poor vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline as well as creating challenges to safe mobility that can put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. So, cataract awareness and helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery has an important place in securing senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state.

What is a Cataract & How Does it Affect Vision?

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. Patients should understand that 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.

Symptoms of Cataracts

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 the need for frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.

When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with patient comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated with cataract surgery and lens implants. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Today, at seeta Eye center we use the technology of laser cataract surgery to deliver a safe, precise cataractsurgery procedure along with advanced technology lens implants that allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, laser cataractsurgery 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 at 23 Davis Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603, Cecilwood Health Center, 969 Main Street, Fishkill, New York 12524 and 664 Stoneleigh Avenue, Suite 100, Carmel, New York 10512 for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County.

Diet Supplements to Reduce Risk of Macular Degeneration

The Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that taking diet supplements with antioxidant vitamins C and E, Beta Carotene and Zinc can reduce the risk of progression to advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).  In addition to this “AREDS Supplement Formulation”, some data suggests that increased dietary intake of lutein + zeaxanthin (carotenoids), omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] + eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), or both might further reduce this risk.

Researchers from the Age Related Eye Disease 2 (AREDS) Research Group reporting in the  Journal of the  American Medical Association concluded that the addition of lutein + zeaxanthin, DHA + EPA, or both to the AREDS Supplement Formulation did not further reduce risk of progression to advanced AMD but lutein + zeaxanthin could be an appropriate carotenoid substitute in the AREDS formulation for former smokers who were at risk for lung cancer.

If you or someone you know has questions about diet supplements for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or needs an eye exam for macular degeneration, 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 at 23 Davis Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603, Cecilwood Health Center, 969 Main Street, Fishkill, New York 12524 and 664 Stoneleigh Avenue, Suite 100, Carmel, New York 10512 for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County.