Clearing Up Cataracts

If you are caring for an older adult you need to be alert for even small changes in your relative's health.

Cataracts are most common cause of vision loss in older people and are a natural part of aging. They develop slowly, causing the lens of the eye to become cloudy and gradually reduce vision. Over time your relative's vision will diminish. More than half of people over 80 have at least one cataract.

CATARACT SYMPTOMS

Cataracts aren't painful. Most people don't know they have one until it is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist at a routine eye exam.

Cataract symptoms include:

• Difficulty seeing at night – especially when driving.
• Seeing haloes around lights.
• Sensitivity to glare.
• Difficulty reading fine print.
• Difficulty seeing steps or curbs.
• Poor color vision.

TREATING CATARACTS

Cataracts are treated by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. This procedure is usually done in an outpatient clinic and takes only an hour or so to complete. If cataracts are present in both eyes, the ophthalmologist will remove one cataract at a time. The second cataract will be removed when the first eye has healed completely.

SURGERY

Your relative will have a thorough eye examination before surgery to determine if there are any other eye disorders such as glaucoma are present. Both eyes will be measured and a custom-made lens will be made for each. The ophthalmologist will explain the procedure, possible risks and complications to you and your parent. You both will receive written information about the surgery. The patient will be asked to sign a consent form.

Have a list of questions for the doctor and bring along a notebook and pencil to the appointment. Bring a list of medications he or she takes – both prescription and over the counter – for other conditions. Be sure to tell the ophthalmologist beforehand if your parent has diabetes. Your relative will not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the procedure. The surgery itself takes very little time so your parent won't need general anesthesia. Before the procedure your relative will be given medications for pain and to make him or her feel sleepy.

AFTER SURGERY

Your parent will spend an hour or so in the recovery room until the medications given during the procedure wear off. When your patient awakens he or she will have an eye patch and be given eye drops and other medications to take home. Plan the spend the rest of the day relaxing.

When the first eye is healed the eye doctor will remove the cataract from the other eye. Most people notice improved vision a few days after the surgery. If your parent was very nearsighted before the surgery his vision may improve greatly after the procedure. Colors will be brighter. Night vision will be better. Some lucky people find that they don't need to wear glasses at all!

Understanding cataract surgery basics will help the procedure go smoothly for you and your relative. You'll both be pleased at the improvement in your parent's vision.