| I think that most of us would value our eyesight | | | | and film-maker and even though he had retired, it |
| and would not want to lose it through aging. I | | | | made life difficult until he had the operation. |
| have spoken recently to a neighbor who has | | | | A few years ago, another elderly neighbour began |
| problems with cataracts - she is finding it difficult | | | | using a walking stick because she was going blind |
| to read books and is waiting for an operation. | | | | as a result of age-related macular degeneration |
| Cataracts are very common, affecting roughly | | | | (AMD). In the United States, age-related macular |
| 60% of people over the age of 60, and over 1.5 | | | | degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in |
| million cataract surgeries are performed in the | | | | people over 60 years of age. |
| United States each year. Most common | | | | As I love reading and travelling, I would hate the |
| complaints include difficulty driving at night, reading, | | | | thought of having impaired eyesight and worse |
| participating in sports such as golfing, or travelling | | | | still, the loss of eyesight. And if you are a |
| to unfamiliar areas; these are all activities for | | | | grandparent, how would the deterioration of your |
| which clear vision is essential. | | | | eyesight affect the enjoyment of your |
| I had an aunt whose hobby was embroidery and | | | | grandchildren? |
| she lost the ability to discern the colours of the | | | | A simple preventative solution is to wear |
| threads when she suffered from cataracts. After | | | | sunglasses when in bright sunlight. And by |
| the operation, she was amazed at the difference | | | | combining a healthy diet of fresh fruit and |
| in her sight. My father also suffered from | | | | vegetables, plus supplements may provide further |
| cataracts. He was a professional photographer | | | | fortification. |