Why Seniors Should Get Tested for Cataracts

Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  August 30, 2018

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Eye Health and Cataracts

Cataracts | Should you go for a cataract exam? If you have been experiencing blurred or double vision, eyeglasses don’t make things better, and normal activities are being challenged by your vision issues, then yes. If cataracts aren’t treated properly, and promptly, they tend to worsen and can lead to blindness. Preventative examinations, along with the proper medical care, may avert the downward spiral of loss of vision. Remember, if you are having problems, you aren’t alone.

Cataracts are a problem for over 24 million people.

Cataracts are especially prevalent in older populations. They create a clouding of the lens that sometimes becomes visible to others. They also prevent the proper amount of light from entering the eyes, therefore limiting visual acuity. Cataracts aren’t painful, but they cause big problems for older folks since they cause major problems with driving. Night vision is usually affected, with a blurring or halo effect appearing around oncoming lights. Colours are no longer vivid, seem lacklustre and hard to recognize, even while wearing eyeglasses. Untreated, an adult’s eyes may become noticeably cloudy and discoloured to others

What triggers cataracts, other than aging? We aren’t sure, but there are known contributing factors:

• Smoking
• Exposure to UV rays
• Hereditary factors
• Diabetes
• Using steroids for extended periods of time
• Eye injury, specific diseases, or inflammation
• Events that occur before birth, such as an illness the mother has when pregnant

So, what can you do? How can you be protected from cataracts? Doctors recommend wearing sunglasses with UV-protection, quitting smoking, exercising, and eating leafy green veggies. Make appointments annually with your doctor so cataracts can be detected and treated early.

Surgery to remove cataracts is commonplace in our country, with over 2 million procedures performed each year, with a fantastic 95% success rate. The further good news is that patient recovery time is typically just a few days, although you’ll need about a month for complete healing. During recovery, your friends and family might want to help out with their loved ones.

This is a good time to suggest a professional caregiver, as well. A patient who can live independently, with some light assistance with activities will be happier during recovery. When an adult receives help with housekeeping, meals or shopping, a sense of competence is maintained. A caregiver can also provide transport to follow-up medical appointments!

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for many families when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Respite Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance Right Where You Live.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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