Elder Care in Seminole FL

Cataracts is a common eye disease among older adults. This condition develops when protein builds up in the lens of your eye, causing the elder’s vision to become blurry or cloudy. Cataracts may also cause the elder to lose part or all of their vision if the problem is not treated immediately. If your loved one has this condition, they may need an elder care provider if their vision has made it too difficult to see.

Educating yourself on cataracts will make it much easier to provide the care your and help they require. Below is more information on the eye condition that will help you understand what your aging parent is going through.

Symptoms

Cataracts usually form slowly and over time. If your loved one complains of the following problems, make an appointment with their optometrist as soon as possible.

• Nearsightedness
• Eyesight that is blurry, cloudy, foggy, or filmy
• Changes in how they see colors
• Issues with glare during the day
• There is double vision in the eye that is affected by this condition
• Contact lenses or eyeglasses are not fixing the vision problems
• Problems driving at night

Types of Cataracts

There are four types of cataracts to be aware of:

• Age-related: It develops as they get older
• Congenital: This type of cataracts develops at birth and may be caused by an injury, infection, or poor development in the womb.
• Secondary: Cataracts is the result of other health problems, such as diabetes. It can also be caused by exposure to radiation, ultraviolet light, toxic substances, or certain medications, like diuretics.
• Traumatic: This type of cataracts occurs after an injury to the eye.

Treatment Options

If your elderly parent was diagnosed by their optometrist, there are some treatment options available. They may want to first try prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to see if this will correct the problem. If it does not work, they may recommend cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that will allow the elder to go home the same day. It is a simple surgery that over 95 percent of patients have said helps them see more clearly. During the procedure, the surgeon will replace the senior’s natural lens with an artificial one.

Prevention

Unfortunately, it is still unclear as to how cataracts is caused, so researchers are unable to determine how it can be prevented. This is a normal condition among older adults, so as long as they are getting regular vision checkups, they will be able to receive a diagnosis early enough to get a treatment for.

Source:
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/what-are-cataracts#1

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring In-Home Elder Care in Seminole, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.