Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

August is Cataract Awareness Month

More than 20 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, one of the most curable causes of vision loss.  The good news is that in most cases, the effects of eye disease can be minimized through early detection and treatment. This is especially true of cataracts.  Regular eye exams and vision screening are the key to early detection. 

Cataracts are the clouding of the eye's normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if cataracts grow and begin to affect vision, they can usually be removed with surgery.

Although most cataracts occur with age and can't be avoided altogether, you can take steps to help slow or possibly prevent their development:

• Don't smoke. Smoking produces free radicals, increasing your risk of cataracts.
  
  
• Eat a balanced diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables may have a modest effect in preventing cataract development, though this hasn't been definitively proved.
  
  
• Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts. Whenever possible, wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors.
  
  
• Take care of other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions. If you have a chronic illness, it's especially important that you take other preventive steps, such as wearing UVB-blocking sunglasses when outdoors, and not smoking.

Belmont Village communities are designed with the specific needs of residents with vision issues in mind—from the lighting choices, to rug and fabric colors and patterns, to dishware design.  Belmont’s Centers for Learning include computer keyboards with larger than usual typeface and monitor screens configured for large print viewing.  Additionally, our libraries offer a selection of audio and large print books for residents. 

Belmont Village communities regularly host health fairs with free vision screenings to promote vision care and prevention of eye disorders.  Support groups are available in some areas. For more information, please contact the Belmont Village community nearest you.  Click here for community contact information.

For a free downloadable booklet about cataracts, please visit the National Eye Institute website, www.nei.nih.gov.

Click here to return to e-Newsletter home page.