Is Your View Fading? What You Need to Know for Cataract Awareness Month

As we head into summer and the days get brighter, it’s the perfect time to shed some light on one of the most common vision changes we face as we age: Cataracts.

June is officially Cataract Awareness Month, and we wanted to use this as a gateway in educating the community about what a cataract is, when they develop, and how Valley Eye Associates can help.

Inside your eye, you have a natural, clear lens that works much like a camera lens, focusing light so you can see sharp images. A cataract develops when the proteins in this lens begin to clump together over time. Imagine a crystal-clear camera lens slowly getting smudged or covered in a fine layer of dust. As this cloudiness builds, it scatters the light entering your eye instead of focusing it cleanly, making your everyday view look increasingly blurry or dim.

The cause of cataracts is typically aging. It’s a natural part of our eye’s aging process, and by age 80, more than half of all Americans will either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. There are several factors that can speed up the development, and those include: prolonged, unprotected sun exposure, smoking, diabetes, long-term use of steroids, or eye injuries/trauma.

Cataracts typically develop slowly, where you may not notice them at first. As the cataracts progress, it can feel like you’re constantly looking through smudged glass, or the world may just look a bit washed out or dull. You could have increased glare or halos around headlights at night, or you find that new glasses or contacts just aren’t cutting it anymore.

While you can’t entirely stop the natural aging process of your eyes, you can take proactive steps to protecting your vision and could delay the progression. You can wear UV-blocking sunglasses, schedule yearly eye exams, quit smoking, and eating a vibrant diet.

If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, there is no need to panic. Because cataracts progress at a slow, gradual pace, you usually have plenty of time to discuss your options and plan next steps with your eye care team. If it’s been quite some time since your last eye exam, it might feel like a cataract appeared overnight. If you ever have any questions about what Valley Eye has to offer, and you haven’t had previous eye surgery or had a cataract diagnosis, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with us!

We don’t want you to just see better; we want you to see exactly how you want to see. By taking the time to understand the different lens technologies and choosing the right timing for your life, you aren’t “delaying your health”—you are “optimizing your future.” We want you to feel empowered, not just rushed into the first opening available. Whether you want surgery next month or six months from now, our goal is the same: ensuring that when you finally do go into the OR, you are 100% confident in the plan we’ve built together. Clearer peace of mind is just a conversation away!

We look forward to seeing you soon for your cataract examination! Our goal is to ensure you feel empowered and well-informed about your eye health even before you step into our office.

To help you prepare, we have created a series of educational videos specifically for our patients. These short, informative videos will walk you through:

1. What to expect during your exam: A step-by-step look at the diagnostic tests we perform.
2. Your personalized options: An overview of the different types of lenses and technologies available to fit your lifestyle.

We encourage you to watch these videos prior to your first cataract visit with us. Understanding these concepts ahead of time will help you have a more meaningful discussion about your vision goals during your appointment. If you have any further questions, feel free to call our team ready to serve you, at 920-730-4168.