Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States. More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they reach 80 years old.
June is Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know that more than 22.3 million Americans have cataracts? Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States. More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they reach 80 years old.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that blocks or alters the passage of light into the eye. Cataracts may cause your vision to become blurry or dim as the cataract stops light from correctly passing through to your retina.
Risk Factors
There is no known cause for cataracts, as they typically develop with age. Several risk factors include:
Symptoms
Cataracts do not cause pain or redness. Common symptoms include:
If you notice any of these changes to your eyesight, tell your primary care physician or Landmark provider. Or, if you have an eye doctor, make an appointment to see them.
During Healthcare Risk Management Week, celebrated June 17–21, Landmark recognizes the important work that our risk management and patient safety professionals do to ensure that our patients receive safe health care.
Advance care planning can take place at any time—it’s not just for those who are old or sick. You can prepare for these situations now, to be sure that your wishes will be followed no matter what.
Did you know that 1 in 5 people are affected by mental illness? andmark has teams of behavioral health specialists, social workers, and medical providers to help identify and treat our patients with mental health issues.