In observance of Cataract Awareness Month, the N.C. Division of Services for the Blind seeks to educate North Carolinians on cataracts. A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s lens that gradually causes loss of vision. Early signs include blurred vision and light from the sun or a lamp seeming too bright. A person with a cataract may notice oncoming headlights causing more glare than before during nighttime driving or colors not appearing as brightly as they once did.

Age-related cataracts are the most common type. People can have a small age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s that does not affect vision. However, after age 60, most cataracts start stealing vision. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), cataracts affect at least half of people age 80 or older. The NEI recommends that everyone over age 60 have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years.

A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with everyday activities such as driving, reading or watching TV. An eye care professional can monitor it and advise about future treatment. If surgery is needed, an eye care professional will remove the clouded lens and, in most cases, replace it with a clear plastic lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the U.S. with more than 1.5 million performed annually, with a high success rate in restoring vision.

For more information, see the pamphlet “Don’t lose sight of Cataract” available in English and Spanish at https://catalog.nei.nih.gov/p-249-dont-lose-sight-of-cataract.aspx or visit the NEI at www.nei.nih.gov.

If you are in need of assistance for yourself or a family member who has been diagnosed with a significant visual impairment requiring