Maceió Health Secretariat issues alert on cataract symptoms and diagnosis

The Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) of Maceió has issued an alert regarding the signs of cataracts, emphasizing the necessity of diagnosis and treatment. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness globally, accounting for 47.8% of cases according to the Ministry of Health, primarily affecting the elderly.

The condition occurs when the lens of the eye loses its transparency and becomes opaque. Common symptoms include blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing at night, halos around headlights, changes in color perception, and frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. Ophthalmologist Thiago Nunes notes that patients often describe the sensation as having a fog in front of their eyes.

Health officials recommend regular eye examinations, particularly starting at age 40 to identify conditions like glaucoma early, and noting that risks increase significantly after age 60.