About National Cataract Awareness Month

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Currently, more than 24 million Americans age 40 and older struggle with cataract(s), according to a report from Prevent Blindness America entitled "Vision Problems." It is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Unlike many eye diseases, vision loss due to cataracts can be restored. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States and has a 95 percent success rate.

To educate the public on cataracts, Prevent Blindness America has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. The national non-profit group provides free information through its dedicated web page at preventblindness.org/cataract,

The following changes in your vision may be signs of cataract:

1) Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, the sense of a film over the eyes.

2) Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or you are dazzled by strong light.

3) Changing eyeglass prescriptions often. The change may not help your vision.

It is possible to see the cataract in your eye. It may look like a milky or yellowish spot in the pupil (the center of your eye is typically black).

"Although getting a cataract is common, it doesn't have to mean permanent vision loss," said Hugh R. Parry, president, and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.

"One way to protect our vision is to make a commitment to take care of our eyes today, including getting a dilated eye exam, so we can help protect our sight for the future not just from cataract, but other eye diseases as well."