Harrisburg, PA - Almost everyone who lives a long life will develop cataracts at some point. August is Cataract Awareness Month, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) is encouraging seniors and their caregivers to understand cataract risks, symptoms, and prevention tips, as well as how to decide when it is time for cataract surgery so good vision can be restored.

Cataracts are the most common causes of vision loss. In fact, by age 75, about 70 percent of people have cataracts. However, cataracts typically develop slowly, so symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Over time, cataracts can cause vision to become blurry, cloudy dim, or dull – not unlike looking throw a dirty car windshield. These symptoms may interfere with daily activities. The good news is that cataracts are treatable with cataract surgery.

“Cataract surgery is a very common procedure with great success rates,” says Roger Zelt, MD, PAO President. “As an ophthalmologist, it’s always a pleasure to help our patients see better, so we encourage cataract patients to talk with their ophthalmologist about cataract surgery options.”