Seniors and Their Caregivers Urged to Be Aware of the Dangers of Ignoring the Symptoms of Cataracts
Friday, August 2, 2013
Dear PSA Director,
In support of Cataract Awareness Month in August, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging seniors and their caregivers to be aware of the dangers of ignoring the symptoms of cataracts, a leading cause of visual impairment that will affect more than half of all Americans by the time they are 80 years old. Delaying diagnosis and treatment of age-related cataracts can increase seniors’ risk of permanent blindness and can lead to both physical and psychological damage.
Cataracts are caused by the clouding of the lens of the eye and are most common among older adults as the condition develops as the eye ages. Many seniors cope with cataracts – accepting vision loss as an inevitable part of the aging process rather than seeking medical treatment. Due to the incapacitation caused by blurred vision, leaving cataracts undiagnosed and untreated can lead to physical danger such as injuries from falls or running into unseen objects, as well as psychological harm like depression and social isolation. In addition, the longer advanced forms of cataracts are left untreated, the more difficult it can be to successfully repair the damage caused to the eye.
Adults age 65 and older should have regular eye exams to monitor for the development of cataracts, in addition to other common eye conditions and diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma.
For people without regular access to eye care or for whom cost is a concern, EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, offers eye exams and care at no out of pocket cost to qualifying seniors age 65 and older through its corps of nearly 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S.
To raise awareness about the importance of the dangers of ignoring the symptoms of cataracts, please place this PSA in heavy rotation between now and Saturday, August 31, 2013 so your listeners can hear about the free eye exams being offered.
To learn more about EyeCare America or to find out if you or a loved one qualifies for the program, visit www.eyecareamerica.org. For more information on cataracts and other eye health information, visit www.geteyesmart.org.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Linda Apeles
American Academy of Ophthalmology
:30 PSA SCRIPT
ARE YOU AGE SIXTY-FIVE OR OLDER AND SUFFER FROM DULL, BLURRY VISION? DO YOU NEED YOUR EYES CHECKED BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT COST? YOU ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY FROM A FREE EYE EXAM. EYECARE AMERICA, A PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, HAS VOLUNTEER OPHTHALMOLOGISTS ACROSS THE US WHO PROVIDE EYE CARE AT NO-OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS. VISIT WWW.EYECAREAMERICA.ORG TO FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY. THAT’S WWW.EYECAREAMERICA.ORG.