By age 80, more than half of all Americans develop cataracts in their eyes, which results in the lens of the eye becoming cloudy. Most people who suffer from cataracts have them in both eyes, although one eye may be worse than the other. Some people who have cataracts don’t even realize they have them, so be sure to watch for these symptoms:

• Changes in the way you see color
• Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
• Impaired vision at night, especially while driving, caused by the effects of bright light
• Problems with glare from lamps or the sun
• Halos around lights
• Double vision
• A white spot or cloudy spot in the lens of the eye (the pupil instead of being black, appears milky or white)

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your eye doctor immediately. All seniors should have regular comprehensive eye exams to detect signs of serious vision problems and prevent further deterioration of sight. Remember that regular eye exams are the most important way to prevent vision loss. If your family has a history of eye disease, diabetes, or poor health, or if you are taking medication that affects your eyes, you should have an eye exam every year.