Cataracts
Although 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have
cataracts, cataracts are one of the most 
curable causes of vision loss.
A cataract is the clouding of the eye's normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. A cataract forms slowly and causes no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if the cataract does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide; however, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible. New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients. Each year there are over 1.5 million surgeries performed in the United States.
There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular myth, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient's vision is profound.
So how do you know if you have a cataract? You might notice
- a gradual painless blurring of vision,
- double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors,
- sensitivity to glare and/or bright light,
- trouble driving at night, or
- if you wear corrective lenses, frequent changes to your glasses or contact lens' prescription.
While cataracts usually are part of the aging process, they can develop at the result of:
- eye injuries,
- other diseases, like diabetes,
- genetic inheritances,
- medications,
- frequent, unprotected exposure to the sun, or
- smoking.
If you suspect that you might have a cataract, get a comprehensive eye exam from a qualified eye medical professional. Currently, there are no medications or exercises that will help cataracts to disappear. If you have a cataract, you may consider having it removed with surgery.
Cataract surgery is a great procedure, but it's still surgery. If cataracts don’t affect your quality of life, you may feel that surgery is not needed. The only person who can really decide when it's time to have it removed is you.
To learn more explore the following two sites:
Rehabilitation Services
Loss of common daily activities such as the inability to drive safely, to read regular print or to watch T.V. can have a horrendous effect on one's life that can lead to job loss or isolation. But low vision rehabilitation is available to help a person preserve her/his quality of life and maintain maximum independence.
There are strategies and various devices that can assist a person in gaining the life style s/he enjoyed prior to vision loss. These include such things as:
- Strategies such as changing the lighting at home or at your job to maximize the vision you have; using color contrasts (e.g. dark table cloth with light dishes); simple labeling techniques (e.g. rubber band around the conditioner, none on shampoo)
- Optical aides such as magnifiers, telescopes, microscopes, electronic magnifiers, and prisms.
- High tech aides such Closed Caption T.V. (CCTV) or reading machines
- Non optical aides such as large print, audio tapes, signature guides
- Computer technology such as special screen magnification devices such as Zoom Text or Magic
The list of strategies and devices are endless. A good Web site to provide you with low vision resources is the Low Vision Information Center.
If you live in Florida and have vision loss that is causing you problems, you might benefit from one or more of our various programs. These include:
Braille and Talking Book Library Services
The Florida Division of Blind Services provides information and reading materials needed by individuals residing in Florida who are unable to use standard print as the result of visual, physical, or reading disabilities. These services are provided through its Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.
Services to Adults Who Are Faced With Vision Loss and Want to Live Independently
Independent living services are provided to enable individuals who are blind and severely visually impaired to live more independently in their homes and communities with the maximum degree of self-direction. Successful outcomes enable individuals to live more independently in their community and/or transition to the world of work.
Services to Individuals Seeking Employment
Vocational rehabilitation services are provided to assist individuals who have a bilateral visual impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; and need services to prepare for, enter or engage in or retain gainful employment. Successful outcomes lead to achievement of employment goals.