Unfortunately, our senses can degrade as we age. It’s not uncommon for older adults to require a pair of glasses to read a book or ask someone to repeat what they said due to hearing loss. These are quite familiar problems. However when it comes to your vision, if you’re experiencing cloudiness or colors seem to be faded, you may be experiencing a cataract. Don’t ignore the problem. June is known as Cataracts Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect reason why you should head to go see your eye doctor.

Cataracts are a common occurrence in older adults. As of right now, over 3 million people are being treated for cataracts, and research has shown that by the age of 80, over half of all adults will experience the development of one. However, what exactly is a cataract?

To understand a cataract you have to understand the eye. It’s a complicated organ. It is made up of many tiny parts that allow you to see the world. The main parts include the iris, cornea, pupil, retina, and lens. Cataracts are formed in the lens of your eye. The lens is the clear part that allows light to shine through and hit your retina. The retina will then take that light and focus it, so your brain can process all of the information around you.

For a person with cataracts, their lens is not clear. Proteins within it become clumped up and form a cloud that directly affects their vision. It may start small, but over time the cataract will grow. At first it may seem like you have no vision problems at all. However, as it does grow, one’s vision becomes blurred and colors begin to fade. Your eyes will be like a camera that needs to be properly focused in order to see the subject more clearly. Unfortunately, our eyes do not have a manual focus override. The best way to fix your vision if you have a cataract is through surgery.

Luckily, cataract surgery is an easy procedure. As stated previously, cataracts affect over 3 million people, so it’s very common and practiced everywhere. It’s also quite effective. Ninety percent of the people who go in for cataract surgery walk out with better vision. The surgery entails the removal of the clouded part of the lens, and its replacement using an artificial lens. It usually lasts less than an hour, and people choose to be awake the whole time. It’s a relatively painless procedure. That being said, surgery is only required if it’s affecting your day-to-day life. If you can still drive, read, or watch TV without forcibly squinting, it’s not required.

All in all it’s up to your doctor to detect if you have any cataracts, and if you need to get them removed. You may think your vision is fine, but you may have undetected issues. Don’t let them go unnoticed! That’s why it’s important to see your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you if you have cataracts or anything other disorder affecting your eyes. Of course, it’s always smart to wear sunglasses when it’s bright and a brimmed hat in order to reduce the amount of UV rays hitting your lens and other parts of your eye. This can help reduce your chances of eye disorders, but it won’t be able to reverse any damage. Therefore, make sure you celebrate Cataract Awareness month the right way and go see your doctor!