44 THE QUEENS COURIER • SENIOR LIVING • JULY 12, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
senior living
Don’t let cataracts make you miss out on living life to the fullest
Does your life today look diff erent than
it did in your younger years - literally? If
things seem more cloudy and blurry than
usual, even with your glasses on, you may
be one of 24 million Americans living
with cataracts. Cataracts might be slow
to make themselves known, but the ultimate
impact they have on your life can
be profound.
As daily activities like driving become
more diffi cult, you might be feeling like
you’ve lost some of your independence
and may experience fear of missing out
(FOMO) on the things you love, like traveling
to your favorite destinations and
spending quality time with your family.
But that doesn’t have to be your reality.
“Many patients who come into my
practice are unhappy with the way cataracts
are making them miss out on experiences,
but they’re hesitant about undergoing
cataract surgery - even though it is
the only treatment for cataracts,” said Dr.
Bonnie Henderson*, a Clinical Professor
of Ophthalmology at Tuft s University
School of Medicine in Massachusetts. “I
talk to my patients about the benefi ts of
cataract surgery so they are comfortable
undergoing treatment and don’t waste
any more precious time missing out on
what life has to off er.”
June is Cataract Awareness Month, a
time to shine a spotlight on the toll this
condition can take on the lives of millions
of Americans. Whether you’re someone
living with cataracts or concerned about
a loved one struggling with their eyesight,
Dr. Henderson sheds light on cataracts
and answers important questions about
the latest cataract surgery options.
What exactly are cataracts?
Cataracts cloud the eye’s naturally clear
lens, blocking or changing how light passes
through and resulting in blurry vision.
Nearly everyone who lives long enough
will develop cataracts. It’s one of the
leading causes of vision loss in the United
States and the primary cause of blindness
in the world. ,
What are people with cataracts
missing out on?
A survey conducted by Alcon, the global
leader in eye care, unveiled that people
living with cataracts report experiencing
poor vision when driving, having diffi culty
working and feeling fearful about falling.
Many are also worried that cataracts
may keep them from being able to clearly
see vibrant colors, or the faces of their
loved ones. Th ese experiences could be
further increasing their fears and frustrations
about missing out on the things that
bring them joy.
What are the treatment
options for cataracts?
Surgery is the only way that you can
correct cataracts. Nearly four million
Americans go through the brief procedure
each year, and many are able to
quickly resume their lives. Today, there
are even new options that allow you to
correct cataracts and other eye conditions
at the same time, like eye pressure associated
with glaucoma, presbyopia or even
astigmatism - potentially reducing the
need for glasses that you may have worn
your entire life.
What’s keeping people from
having cataract surgery?
Despite the diffi culties cataracts may
cause, survey fi ndings show that many
who are impacted aren’t aware of the
options available to help overcome the
condition. Some decide not to seek treatment
at all because they’re afraid of eye
surgery or they simply accept cataracts as
a natural part of aging.
Th e good news is that with the advancements
in technology available today, cataract
surgery is not something to fear -
or delay. In fact, more than 90 percent
of people 60 years and older who underwent
cataract surgery said they realized
that their worries about the surgery and
recovery process were unfounded and
they would advise someone they know to
get the surgery.
You can hear real people talk about
their cataract stories and learn more
about available treatment options at
MyCataracts.com. Be sure to talk to your
doctor about how treatment can make
sure you never again miss out on what’s
important in life. Take control of your
time - the earlier you start the conversation,
the faster you can get back to doing
the things you love.
Dr. Bonnie Henderson is an internationally
recognized surgeon who is also a
paid consultant for Alcon.
Courtesy BPT
Menopause and painful sex: What you need to know
Th is year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary
of National Senior Health & Fitness
Day. Th e common goal for this observance
is simple: to help keep Americans
healthy and fi t at any age. Th is national
awareness day is the perfect opportunity
for individuals to make or renew resolutions
around aging and health and to revitalize
their commitment to lead healthier
lives - including their sex lives.
Intimacy has been connected with more
and better-quality sleep, less stress and
happier relationships in general, according
to the journal “Health” - although
committing to maintaining a healthy sex
life may prove to be easier said than done.
Unfortunately, for menopausal and postmenopausal
women, pain during sex is
common. A recent HealthyWomen survey
of menopausal women about painful
sex, sponsored by Duchesnay USA, found
that 62 percent of respondents reported
experiencing vaginal pain during or aft er
sexual intercourse. Moreover, while many
of the respondents reported still being
sexually active (73 percent), 83 percent of
respondents reported experiencing pain
in half or more instances of sexual activity,
with 73 percent rating the pain moderate
to severe.
According to the “Journal of Health
Care for the Poor and Underserved
Today,” many women are empowered
to navigate their own medical care and
make health care decisions for their families.
Yet, when it comes to painful sex
due to menopause, it seems that women
are not speaking up about this common
symptom to their health care providers.
According to the HealthyWomen survey,
60 percent of respondents reported
not discussing their painful sex with their
health care providers. Furthermore, 69
percent were unaware that the painful sex
they were experiencing is treatable.
National Senior Health & Fitness Day
is an opportunity to highlight the communication
barriers surrounding painful
sex due to menopause and the treatment
options available, with the long-term goal
of improving women’s sexual - and overall
- health.
Are you suff ering needlessly?
Signifi cant strides in clinical research
and disease treatment have led to medical
advances that may benefi t menopausal
women experiencing pain during intercourse.
While painful sex can be treated
with lubricants or moisturizers, these
only provide temporary relief and do not
address the underlying condition causing
the pain. Th ere are prescription options
available to treat moderate to severe painful
sex, including a once-daily, hormone-free
oral pill, which some women may prefer
over vaginally applied treatments.
Empower yourself
Being your own health advocate
requires overcoming the communication
barrier surrounding pain you are experiencing
during sex. Your health care provider
can provide insight into the risks
and benefi ts of your options, but only if
you start the conversation.
Here are some things you can discuss
with your health care provider at your
next appointment:
• When was your last menstrual period?
• How oft en do you have pain during or
aft er sex?
• How intense is your pain during or aft er
sex? Moderate? Severe?
• How are you coping with pain during
or aft er sex?
• Is an oral treatment right for you?
To learn more: healthywomen.org/
painfulsex.
Courtesy BPT