Ophthalmology

Sunglasses: Pick the perfect pair

Slipping on the right pair of shades can make you feel celebrity cool. But don't lose sight of this: Sunglasses are much more than a fashion statement. Their main purpose is to protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet UV rays, which can cause cataracts and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. To choose wisely, remember these tips: Keep it 100. Look for a tag that says the sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Low-cost glasses with this UV protection will work...

Learn the eye-opening facts about cataracts

As we get older, our bodies start to change, putting us at increased risk for many conditions and diseases, including a common one that affects our sight: cataracts. Here are some answers to questions you may have about the disease. Q: What is a cataract? A: A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. At around age 40, proteins in the lens of your eye start to break down and clump together. This clump—or cataract—makes a cloudy area in your eye's lens. Over time, the catarac...

A better view of cataracts

Blurring vision, faded colors, double vision in one eye, glaring lights, poor night vision. These are just a few of the most common symptoms brought upon by cataracts. Cataracts can develop at any age, but the most common type is age-related. In fact, cataracts impact over 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. Other factors include smoking, sun exposure and diabetes. A cataract clouds the lens of the eye, which is the part that helps focus light. One or both eyes can be affected. In most case...