June is Cataract Awareness Month

With summer FINALLY here in Longmont, temperatures are now consistently in the 80s and summer break is here for our children, so we are all spending more time outdoors. June is Cataract Awareness Month, and here is some information on cataracts and how you can protect your eyes.

A Cataract is a clouding or opacity of the natural internal lens of the eye which causes a visual impairment. The natural lens is located behind the iris, or “colored part” of the eye. The opacity may be a small dot or may involve the entire lens. The opacity in the lens causes the light entering the eye to be scattered, causing images to appear hazy or blurred. What are some symptoms of cataracts?

• Blurred, fuzzy or hazy vision
• Seeing as though looking through a cobweb, or having a film over the eye
• Frequent changing of glasses prescriptions, or seeing better without glasses
• Rings or halos around lights
• Severe decrease in vision with glare or bright lights in the eye

From N Engl J Med. 1988 Dec 1;319(22):1429-33. “We conclude that there is an association between exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and cataract formation, which supports the need for ocular protection from ultraviolet B.” We have quality lines of sunglasses like Oakley, Maui Jim, Rudy Project, and Wiley X to protect your eyes against UVB exposure. We can also make any ophthalmic frame into a quality pair of sunglasses. Stop in at Vision Source Longmont today!