Cataract awareness month

June is Cataract Awareness Month – Dr Buitomelo Khantsi (Ophthalmologist / Eye Surgeon) presented an educational talk to the residents of the Heritage Mature Lifestyle Estate located near the hospital in Modderfontein.

• Seventy-five percent of all cases of blindness is avoidable either through prevention or through treatment – which is why is important to get your eyes tested.
• A comprehensive eye examination will not only determine if you need spectacles but also the presence of eye disease. Common eye diseases such as glaucoma have no early warning signs and can result in irreversible sight loss if not caught in time. Cataracts, macular degeneration and melanomas are prevalent in South Africa due to the high ultra-violet light exposure.
• Your general health can also influence your eyesight, and conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can cause damage to the eye.