Thursday, November 20, 2008 8:58 PM CST
Eye exams should be part of regular medical checks
By Marilyn Strangeman, RSVP Program Director
Has your vision become blurry and cloudy? It could possibly be cataracts.
Only an eye care professional can diagnose cataracts for certain, but what are cataracts?
A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye. To see a sharp image, the lens, clear part of the eye, will help focus light on the retina, where it is changed into nerve signals to the brain. The image is then seen. If the lens is cloudy, the image is not clear.
Most cataracts are related to aging, but there are other types of cataracts. These include secondary cataracts that can form after surgery or from other health problems.
There are cataracts that occur after an eye injury and are called traumatic cataracts. These can develop years after the trauma. Congenital cataracts are present at birth or develop during childhood.
Another type is radiation cataracts; these develop after being exposed to radiation. The age-related cataracts can occur to persons in their 40s and 50s. It is usually after age 60 that the cataracts start to affect vision.
Age is one risk factor for cataracts, but there are some other risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol usage, and prolonged exposure to sunlight. Some precautions that can be taken include wearing sunglasses and a hat to block ultraviolet sunlight.
Eating a healthy diet, including green leafy vegetables, fruit and foods with antioxidants, could also help to reduce the risk of age-related cataracts.
Blurry or cloudy vision is one symptom of cataracts. Others include colors that seem faded; halos that occur around lights; night vision is poor; double vision or multiple images in one eye may occur. If any of these symptoms occur, an eye examination should be made.
There are several tests that could be done at the eye examination. One test would determine how well one sees at various distances. The eyes might be dilated so that the retina and optic nerve can be examined. The pressure inside the eye also will be tested. Other tests could be performed.
If new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses do not help, surgery is probably the only other treatment.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. As with any surgery, there are always risks, but it is one of the safest and most effective surgeries, with approximately 90 percent of persons having better vision after surgery.
Be certain to schedule an eye examination at least every two years, or sooner if requested by the eye professional. Cataracts could be found at one of these regularly scheduled appointments.
New location
The Coles County Council on Aging offices are now located at the LifeSpan Center, located at 11021 E. County Road 800N, Charleston (near Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center).
The new telephone numbers will be 639-5150, for the Coles County Council on Aging and LifeSpan Center. The telephone numbers for the programs are: Coles County RSVP, 639-5165; Telecare, 639-5166; Homemaker, 639-5167; Family Caregiver Resource Center, 639-5168; and Dial-a-Ride, 639-639-5169 or 1-800-500-5505. See you at the LifeSpan Center!
LifeSpan Center
calendar of events
Nov. 24-28
Monday — 8:30 a.m., ceramics, free coffee courtesy of Charleston Rehabilitation; noon, lunch at LifeSpan.
Tuesday — 9 a.m., exercise class, men’s coffee time, coffee and doughnuts courtesy of Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home; noon, lunch at LifeSpan; 2-3 p.m., line dancing.
Wednesday — 8:30 a.m., ceramics; 9 a.m., china painting, free coffee courtesy of Brookstone Estates of Charleston, free doughnuts courtesy of Hilltop Convalescent Center; 11:30 a.m., blood pressure with Lincolnland of Sarah Bush Lincoln; noon, lunch at LifeSpan.
Thurs.-Fri. — Center closed for Thanksgiving.
Saturdays — 9 a.m.-noon, RSVP Aluminum Can Recycling Site open; located at the pool parking lot, Charleston; buying dry, clean aluminum cans at market price. All proceeds are used in the RSVP program. For more information about the site or recycling, call RSVP at 639-5165.
Upcoming:
Dec. 8 — 1-2 p.m., line dancing, LifeSpan Center. This provides an opportunity for persons to learn line dancing or to improve skills. For more information, call the LifeSpan Center at 639-5150. No pre-registration is required.
Dec. 11 — RSVP Recognition Brunch at the LifeSpan Center. Invitations have been mailed to RSVP volunteers who have served six hours from April 1 to Sept. 30.
Dec. 11 — 1:30 p.m., Rules of the Road Review Course. No pre-registration required.
Dial-a-Ride
Charleston van schedule
Monday — 9:30-11 a.m., van goes to Wal-Mart; 1-2 p.m., van goes to Dollar Store.
Tuesday — 9-10 a.m., van goes to Save-a-Lot.
Mattoon van schedule
Monday — 9-10 a.m., van goes to County Market; 1-2:30 p.m., van goes to Catholic Charities.
The Coles County Council on Aging, a local charity since 1974, sponsors the local Coles County RSVP program. The RSVP program receives funding through the Corporation for National and Community Service, Illinois Department on Aging, and the United Way of Coles County. www.colescouncilonaging.org.
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