Leading Cause of Blindness

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and there are more than 24 million Americans age 40 and older who have cataract in the United States alone, according to the Vision Problems in the U.S. report from Prevent Blindness.  Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye.

The recent “Cost of Vision Problems:  The Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in the United States” report found that at $10.7 billion, cataract is the second costliest vision disorder (behind refractive error) and the most expensive medical diagnosis.
The exact cause of a cataract is unknown.  Most often, a cataract is part of getting older. With age comes a greater risk of developing a cataract. There are also several possible risk factors for cataracts, such as:

• Intense heat or long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun
• Certain diseases, such as diabetes
• Inflammation in the eye
• Hereditary influences
• Events before birth, such as German measles in the mother
• Long-term steroid use
• Eye injuries
• Eye diseases
• Smoking

“The best thing we can do to protect our vision is to get regular eye exams,” said Hugh R. Parry   “We can also save our vision by maintaining healthy lifestyles like eating leafy green vegetables, exercising and quitting smoking.  All we do to benefit our overall health can benefit our eyes as well!”

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You have only a pair of eyes, so take care of your eyes. It is always a good idea to consult with your eye doctor to discuss your options.

For free information on cataract, please call 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore at or visit 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore website at preventblindness.org/cataract. We are happy to serve any time you visit us. we look forward seeing you!