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Cataract and Glaucoma Specialist

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Home > Archives for Cataract treatment professional Maryland

Eye Care News: Cataracts and Hip Fractures; are they Linked?

August 31, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A recent study found that people who had undergone cataract surgery had a 16% lower risk of hip fracture one year after the procedure.

Falls and the resulting bone fractures are a major cause of disability and death among the elderly. Every year in the United, 350,000 people experience a hip fracture. And by the year 2050, this number is expected to be as high as 650,000 hip fractures annually. That is nearly 1,800 hip fractures a day.

Hip Fracture Statistics

  • Fall-related injuries cost the United States more than $10 billion in healthcare costs in 2000 alone.
  • 90% of all hip fractures in the United States are the result of a fall.
  • The cost of hip fracture care averages $26,912 per patient.
  • Only 25% of hip fracture patients make a full recovery.
  • 40% of hip fracture patients require nursing home care.
  • 50% of hip fracture patients need a cane or walker.
  • 24% of hip fracture patients over the age of 50 pass away within 12 months of the injury.

Cataract Surgery & the Prevention of Hip Fractures

A new study suggests that cataract surgery could reduce the possibility of hip fractures in the elderly by as much as 23%. This makes sense considering vision impairment is one of the major risk factors for falls among the elderly.

“Cataract surgery has already been demonstrated to be a cost-effective intervention for visual improvement,” wrote researcher Victoria Tseng, MD, of Brown University, and colleagues in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “The results in this study suggest the need for further investigation of the additional potential benefit of cataract surgery as a cost-effective intervention to decrease the incidence of fractures in the elderly.”

Researchers studied the risk of hip fracture for one year among the more than 1 million Medicare patients age 65 and older who had been diagnosed with cataracts between 2002 and 2009. And of these individuals, 36.9% had cataract surgery during the study period.

13,976 people (1.3%) had a hip fracture during the study.

Researchers found that people who had undergone cataract surgery had a 16% lower risk of hip fracture one year after the procedure.

“In patients with severe cataract, the association between cataract surgery and lower odds of hip fracture was even stronger, with a 23% reduction in the adjusted odds of hip fracture in the cataract surgery group compared with the cataract diagnosis group,” wrote researchers.

What are Cataracts?

As we age, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This clouding is known as cataracts. This is a normal part of the aging process. If we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts at some point in our lives.

“I like to compare it to the clear plastic window in the back of a convertible car,” said board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles, M.D. “After years of exposure to sun and weather, the plastic becomes yellow and cloudy.”

Anne Arundel Eye Center: Cataracts Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland

A regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts, Anne Arundel Eye Center offers a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision. Anne Arundel Eye Center provides complete medical eye exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care.  Should you require surgery, your comfort and wellbeing are our top priority. From pre-op testing to post-op care, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

To learn more about Cataracts, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Cataract Surgery May Help Prevent Hip Fractures

Falls and Hip Fractures

 

Filed Under: Cataracts, Eye Care, Injury Prevention, Treatment Tagged With: benefits of cataract surgery, Cataract Diagnosis, Cataract Surgery, Cataract treatment, Cataract treatment professional Maryland, clouding of eye, falls in the elderly, hip fractures, information about hip fractures, link between cataracts and hip fractures, medicare patients, prevention of hip fractures

Cataract Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

June 15, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A cataract is clouding of the eye’s lens, which is located behind the iris and pupil. Cataracts, which are caused by protein buildup, usually only effects the elderly.

Cataracts are classified as one of three types:

•     A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with diabetes, high farsightedness, retinitis pigmentosa, or those taking high doses of steroids, may develop a subcapsular cataract.

•     A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms. This cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and is due to natural aging changes.

•     A cortical cataract forms in the lens cortex and gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts.

This article from eHow.com provides a few helpful Ways to prevent cataracts:

1.    Protect your eyes when out in bright sunlight. Wear sunglasses that block strong ultraviolet (UV) rays or a wide-brimmed hat that will shade your eyes from the sun.

2.    Stop smoking. A strong link between smoking and the development of cataracts has been established. If you’re a smoker, smoking cessation will decrease your chances of getting a cataract.

3.    Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The proper intake of some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, has shown to help avoid getting a cataract. Try to get six servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

4.    Manage your diabetes, if you suffer from this disease. Diabetes can cause eye problems, including the development of cataracts. Keeping your diabetes under control can help you avoid getting a cataract if you are diabetic.

5.    Get thorough eye examinations regularly. For those 60 years of age and over, a comprehensive eye exam should be conducted every year.

Of course, if you do find yourself with the symptoms of cataracts, make an appointment to see an optometrist as soon as possible.

Cataracts Symptoms:

•     Blurry sight, and occasionally, double vision

•     ‘Halos’ — the eyes become dazzled by bright light, making night driving difficult

•     Colors may become faded

•     Frequent changes in glasses prescriptions

Cataract development may be detected early and avoided. Anne Arundel Eye Center offers complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

So if you think you may be at risk, schedule an eye appointment as soon as possible. If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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