One common condition that can affect an elderly person’s vision is cataracts. Cataracts are a cloudy film that appears on the lens of the eye and they are often age-related. While a person may have one for years without even realizing it, once symptoms begin to appear and interfere with daily living, providers will often recommend surgery to restore vision.

One of the steps your loved one can take to save her vision this month and all year long is to always attend those routine eye exams and consent to have the optometrist perform the needed tests to detect any eye or vision problems before the damage is so great it interferes with daily life and cannot be restored.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Developing a Cataract

Risk factors for developing cataracts fall into three categories – environmental, genetic, and medical.

Environmental Risks for Cataracts

These risk factors are usually caused by items in a person’s environment, which may or not be able to be altered for eye protection.

• Air pollution
• Tobacco smoke
• Exposure to industrial chemicals
• Long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun without protection
• Pesticide exposure
• Alcohol use

Genetic Risks

• Family history of cataracts
• Age-related genetic mutations

Medical Risks

Some other health conditions can increase the risk of your loved one developing a cataract:

• Diabetes or high blood sugar levels
• Other eye diseases such as retina pigmentosa or uveitis
• Having had eye surgery such as surgery for glaucoma
• Medications for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis

Cataract Symptoms

• Your loved one may complain that her vision seems cloudy, foggy, or blurry and ask if there is something in the air causing everything to appear as if it’s under a film.
• Your loved one may be more sensitive to bright sources of light such as the sun, lamps, or headlights.
• Your loved one will indicate she’s having problems seeing at night.
• Your loved one might notice she doesn’t see color as well as she used to. Everything will look slightly faded.
• You’ve noticed your loved one needs more light to read.
• Your loved one may notice halos or glare around sources of light.
• Your loved one’s vision prescription has changed and her near-sightedness may get worse.

Planning for Home Care Assistance After Cataract Surgery

Once the cataract begins to interfere with daily living, the only way to remove and restore clear vision is with surgery. Cataract surgery is extremely safe and common, but your loved one will still need some help during the recovery period. If she is unable to stay with a family member or have someone stay with her, arranging for home care assistance during her recovery period is a great option for allowing her the ability to recuperate at home while providing the assistance she needs.

After surgery, your loved one might have some restrictions on her activities such as carrying heavy objects or even driving. A home care assistance provider can help provide needed transportation when she cannot drive herself as well as help her with home chores like washing clothes, taking out the garbage, or anything else that might require her to lift or carry something too heavy for her during cataract surgery recovery. Full recovery can take from four to eight weeks but your loved one will begin to see better within days after the surgery.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Rockville, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

• Author
• Recent Posts

Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

Latest posts by Ann Smith RN (see all)

• Clouded Vision: Recognizing Cataract Symptoms and Understanding the Risks - March 26, 2025
• What’s Included With In-Home Care For Seniors? - March 11, 2025
• Understanding Pediatric Home Care: Support for Families and Children - February 25, 2025