Community Health Library

June is Cataract Awareness Month.

Cataracts are a common eye ailment among older people. By age 80, more than half of Americans will have or have had a cataract. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that affects vision. Common symptoms include blurry vision, seeing faded colors, glare, vision problems at night, and double vision. Cataracts usually develop slowly and can be delayed by protecting the eyes from ultraviolet sunlight. They can be treated with a surgery that replaces the cloudy lens. - NIH: National Eye Institute

Find out more with items available from the Community Health Library:

	Cataract Surgery: A Patient's Guide to Cataract Treatment By Uday Devgan, M.D. The author answers questions such as: How long should you wait to have cataract surgery? What type of anesthesia is used? What happens during the surgery? Is there pain after the surgery? How soon will your vision improve after surgery? And more.
	Eye Care Sourcebook Edited by Amy L. Sutton This book includes basic consumer health information about eye care and eye disorders, including facts about the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cataracts.
	Looking Out for Your  Aging Eyes (DVD) Watch this DVD for a comprehensive Health Talk from the Cleveland Clinic on cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.
	Looking Out for Your Vision as You Age (DVD) This 2010 Health Talk from the Cleveland Clinic includes a section called Saving Your Sight: Treatment for Cataracts by Scott A. Wagenberg, M.D.

Visit these websites for more information:

American Academy of Ophthalmology - Cataract Surgery

Mayo Clinic - Cataracts

National Eye Institute - Facts About Cataract

Patient Education Institute - Interactive tutorial



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