It's important to know the symptoms of cataracts

August is Cataract Awareness Month, and doctors encourage Americans to be aware of the symptoms of cataracts.

"A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye," said Dr. Marty Schneider, therapeutic optometrist, "and they tend to grow gradually, so changes in vision may not be noticeable at first."

Symptoms of cataracts may include cloudy vision, sensitivity to bright sunlight, "halos" appearing around headlights at night and colors appearing faded.

According to Schneider, the most common cataracts are agerelated, but there are other forms of cataracts as well. Children can be born with congenital cataracts or have had trauma that caused a cataract to form.

"We can manage some of the symptoms of cataracts in the early stages with sunglasses or eyeglasses with anti-reflective lenses," said Schneider, "but when the cataract interferes with daily activities . . . it's time to consider surgery."

A good way to avoid cataracts is to decrease ultraviolet exposure by wearing protective sunglasses.

Early detection and treatment are keys to managing cataracts. Annual comprehensive eye exams are recommended, especially for people age 60 and older.