How To Care For A Loved One With Cataracts

Something that all people face at some point is developing cataracts. Cataracts are a natural clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens. When the lens becomes clouded, it affects your vision and may make daily life difficult. If you are experiencing vision loss, this is when you need cataract surgery. If you or a loved one has cataracts, here are some helpful ways to manage!

Driving

Driving at night can be incredibly dangerous if you have cataracts. When you have cataracts, driving at night becomes a nightmare. Oncoming headlights can cause glare and make it harder to see. This glare can temporarily blind you and cause an accident! If you have a loved one with cataracts, offer to drive for them after dark. Or if you can’t drive them, get them a ride so they get home.

Remove Falling Hazards

When someone has cataracts, they become much more likely to experience a fall. These falls are due to visual impairment caused by cataracts. When older people fall, injuries are often much more severe. You can help solve this problem by examining your loved one’s home. If you notice problematic items, remove them to reduce the risk of falling. You may also want to discuss having them move to the first floor of their home. If their bedroom is on the second floor, they are more likely to fall. It may seem like you’re being cautious, but it’s important to keep your loved one safe. Explain to them that you are only trying to keep them safe, and want to avoid any falls because of their poor sight.

Cooking And Cleaning

Doing daily chores becomes more difficult if your loved one has cataracts. It becomes harder to cook and clean as well. They may want to clean, but it could put them at an increased risk of falling . Cooking becomes a struggle, since they may not be able to see what they are doing. Offer to cook and clean for your loved one, or hire someone who can. You can also bring over food and tidy up when you visit. This reduces the amount of work that they have to do at home.

Keep Track Of Their Health

If your loved one has cataracts, it’s important they stay as healthy as possible. Being in good health can help slow down the progress of cataracts. This is achievable by eating food filled with vitamins, and practicing mindful eating. If you are obese, it can cause complications with your health and make cataracts worse.

Besides healthy eating, make sure your loved one is attending all appointments . This means visiting their primary care doctor and optometrist at Thomas Eye Group. Their optometrist can check the progress of their cataracts and explore treatment options. They will also be able to tell when cataract surgery is necessary. Helping your loved one schedule these appointments will make things easier! If you can, take them to any necessary appointments so you both know what to expect. Early treatment means they can prevent long-term complications!

Want to learn more about cataracts? Have a loved one who may need cataract surgery? Contact Thomas Eye Group today to schedule an appointment at one of our locations.