In this week’s edition of Wellness Wednesday, Action News Now reporter Margot Rowe looks into cataracts and eye health as part of Cataract Awareness Month
CHICO, Calif. – June marks Cataract Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of eye health as we age.
Dr. Heidi Houlihan from the Chico Eye Center explained that cataracts are a natural part of aging.
Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, often due to changes in protein, Houlihan said.
Dr. Houlihan emphasized that while cataracts are more common in older adults, there is no surefire way to prevent them.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t really any vitamins or supplements that we can take for that,” she said, though wearing sunglasses can help reduce UV exposure, which plays a role in cataract development.
Cataracts can develop over years or even decades before becoming noticeable.
“Cataracts just cause blurry, cloudy vision, but it can happen very gradually,” Houlihan said.
Some people may notice symptoms more while driving, especially at night.
“It’s when we can’t get the vision better or the symptoms eliminated with the change of glasses that then we recommend cataract surgery,” Houlihan added.
Cataract surgery is common at the Chico Eye Center and involves replacing the cloudy lens with a synthetic one.
According to Houlihan, the procedure is quick, typically taking 10-15 minutes, with a fast recovery time.
Dr. Houlihan recommends yearly eye exams to monitor eye health and manage cataracts effectively.
