CULPEPER, Va., June 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Miles Press and the team at Eye Care Of Virginia, located in Culpeper, are preparing for Cataract Awareness Month, which takes place throughout the month of June. The annual event is spearheaded by Prevent Blindness America and seeks to raise awareness about the condition, which is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the world. Dr. Press and his staff are educating patients about cataracts, including how they develop, risk factors and cataract treatment options. "By being aware of cataracts and understanding the basics, people can be more proactive about getting treatment," said Dr. Press. "The sooner someone comes in for help, the easier the treatment will be," he added.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, which over time can negatively affect vision. Initially, it may cause small amounts of blurring, however, it can develop into blindness. According to Prevent Blindness America, approximately 24 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts. Around 3 million of them undergo cataract surgery per year, which makes the procedure one of the most common in the country. "Cataracts are very common, and they typically arise as a part of the normal aging process," said Dr. Press. "However, that doesn't mean people must resign themselves to vision impartment."

In healthy lenses, proteins are arranged in a way that allows light to pass through unimpeded, so that the retina can turn it into nerve signals that are then processed by the brain. However, as people age, proteins in the lens sometimes start clumping together. At first, this phenomenon may cloud a small area. Eventually, it grows larger and causes serious vision problems. Early signs of the condition may be detected through Culpeper eye examinations at Eye Care Of Virginia, where they can refer patients to a local certified surgeon for the procedure.

Treatment for cataracts is straightforward; it is an outpatient procedure, and most patients are able to resume their normal activities quickly. During the surgery, the doctor removes the deteriorating lens and replaces it with an artificial one known as an intraocular lens, or IOL. "The procedure typically takes around 20 minutes," said Dr. Press. "Millions of these surgeries are performed each year, and cataracts surgery is considered to be among the easiest and safest," he added.

By raising awareness about cataracts through Cataracts Awareness Month, the doctor and his team hope to encourage patients to keep up with their annual eye exams. "Early signs of cataracts are easily detected during our thorough eye exams," said Dr. Press. "Early detection makes treatment much easier," he added.

Eye Care Of Virginia is located on James Madison Highway in Culpeper, VA. Appointments can be made by calling (540) 825-3937. Information about their full range of eye care services can be found on their website at http://eyecareofvirginia.com/.

Eye Care of Virginia, (540) 825-3937

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