What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy area that appears on the lens of the eye. The lens is clear when it’s healthy, but sometimes as a person ages, a cataract can appear on the lens. As a person ages, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, more thick, and sometimes cloudy. Proteins within the lens break down and clump together causing a cloudy area of the lens. A cataract will grow over time, blocking the light from entering the lens, and preventing a sharp image from being sent to the brain. They often occur in both eyes at the same time but may grow at different rates.

Cataract Symptoms

• Blurred or Unclear Vision. Your loved one may feel like they’re looking through the haze as objects in front of them appear to be fuzzy or blurry.
• Halos around lights. Bright lights in dark areas may create halos when a cataract is present.
• Faded colors. Color can become dull, making everything look somewhat dim or tinged with yellow.
• Extreme light sensitivity. Cataracts can make it painful to look when bright lights like car headlights are shining toward them.
• Low vision in low light. Your loved one may find they need a very bright area to see well.

Cataract Surgery

Your loved one’s doctor will help them determine if cataract surgery is appropriate for them. Many times, cataracts do not interfere with eyesight and can be left alone until they begin to cause problems with sight and interfere with daily living.

Cataract surgery is a common surgery that is done on an outpatient basis. Your loved one will need reliable transportation to and from the surgical center since they will not be able to drive after the surgery. If both eyes need to have cataract surgeries, it is common to do two separate surgeries, allowing the first surgery site to heal completely before performing the procedure on the other eye.

Four Activities to Avoid After Cataract Surgery

Recovery is usually pretty simple and problem-free after cataract surgery, but your loved one will need to make some temporary alterations to their life as the surgery site completely heals.

• Don’t touch! It can be tempting for your loved one to rub their eyes or feel like there’s something in them that needs to come out. They should wear protective devices to eliminate the risk that they might try to touch their eye as well as keep out other irritants like pollen, dust, and dirt.
• Avoid strenuous activities. Any activity that makes your loved one strain or bend over can cause pressure to build up in the eye. They might need help with some household chores, like carrying laundry upstairs or taking out the garbage. If you are not available, having a home care assistance team ready to step in and help them around the home can be a great way to help them avoid those strenuous chores. A home care assistance provider can do the “heavy” lifting as they recover.
• Avoid driving. Your loved one’s doctor will let them know when it’s okay to drive again. They might need transportation to and from appointments as well as to run errands for a short period. Transportation is another area that home care assistance can often help with.
• Refrain from swimming and be careful with showering. It’ll be important for your loved one to protect their eyes from irritation or possible infection by water entering the area.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Assistance in Folsom, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today at (916) 897-4752

James Ozsvath

Aging Assistant is a locally owned and operated in-home senior care provider, we are dedicated to helping our clients to remain in the home they love for as long as they can. Our caregiving staff are all warm and compassionate professionals, experienced in taking care of seniors in various stages of health. We handle a wide range of services, such as help with shopping, housekeeping, attending doctor’s appointments, and preparing meals. We also provide our clients with limited mobility or more intensive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia with the higher level of personal care that they require. Call our team now if you need help with a loved one's care.

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