Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. A clouding of the eye’s lens, cataract can occur at any age and can be present at birth, although it is most common among older adults. More than half of people in the U.S. age 80 or older have cataracts in one or both eyes or have had surgery to remove them. To increase awareness of the condition, its symptoms, and treatment, June is commemorated as Cataract Awareness Month. A number of factors can increase the risk of developing cataracts. These include intense heat or long-term UV exposure from the sun, diabetes, glaucoma, smoking, and eye injuries, to name a few. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable with surgery that is generally performed on an outpatient basis with a success rate of more than 95 percent. During Cataract Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness is highlighting their free educational resources available to patients and professionals, including fact sheets, social media graphics, a dedicated webpage, and a listing of financial assistance programs. “’As we age, we are more likely to develop cataract,’” noted Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “’The good news is that surgery is highly effective.’” Todd emphasized the importance of checking with an eye doctor about cataract risk and steps that can be taken to maintain eye health and preserve vision. For more details, read the news release announcing that Prevent Blindness Declares June as Cataract Awareness Month to Educate Public on Eye Disease that is the Leading Cause of Vision Loss in the United States. Additional information on the commemoration is available from the Days of the Year description of Cataract Awareness Month. Read more about the eye condition on the webpages for the National Eye Institute (NEI) on Cataracts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) About Common Eye Disorders and Diseases: Cataract.
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