INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you are sleep deprived and feel tired throughout the day, you'll need to cope. Although there are no medical treatments for sleep deprivation, studies suggest that napping is the most effective way to deal with sleep loss. Take naps of 30 minutes or less to make you feel more alert. Avoid taking long naps (over two hours long). These are harder to wake from and they can actually make you feel more tired. Studies have shown that insomniacs are actually kept up because they're hyper alert. For this reason, behavior therapies are usually effective in treating insomnia. To practice a behavioral therapy, you may learn how to relax, use light to relax yourself, and practice good bed habits. Some good bed habits include only using the bed for sleep and sex, having a comfortable sleep environment, and limiting the amount of time that you're laying awake in bed. If behavioral treatments don't work and you're becoming anxious about your sleep deprivation, your doctor may prescribe you a sleep aid. These medications (hypnotics) should only be used for a short period of time and in the lowest dose possible. Side effects of prescription sleep aids include complex behaviors, allergic reactions, dizziness, headache, memory problems, and prolonged drowsiness.  You should never become reliant on a hypnotic medication to be able to sleep. Your doctor may determine that another medication you're taking is causing your sleeplessness. For example, some antidepressants can cause insomnia. It's important to discuss any medication you're currently taking with your doctor. You can try taking an OTC medication. These generally aren't as effective as prescription hypnotics or sleep aids. But, they may contain antihistamines which can calm or relax you. You may want to use OTC medications if you're concerned about the side effects of prescription sleep aids. OTC medications are considered to be safe when used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Use caffeine wisely. While some caffeine use can increase your alertness, you can actually develop a tolerance to it if you use it frequently. To cope with sleep deprivation, take 75 to 150 mg of caffeine early in the day. Avoid taking it later in the day, since caffeine may keep you up at night.  For example, you might drink an 8 ounce cup of coffee around mid-morning. An 8 ounce coffee contains 95 to 200 mg of caffeine (while an 8 ounce cup of black tea contains 14 to 70 mg of caffeine).  Avoid using caffeine too often. If you miss your daily caffeine intake when your body is expecting it, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability and headache.

SUMMARY: Nap when you can. Deal with insomnia. Take prescription sleep aids. Consider using over-the-counter medication (OTCs). Consider using caffeine.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start any treatment plan for cataracts, consult with your doctor or ophthalmologist, which is an eye doctor. She can confirm that you have cataracts and help you figure out what the best types of treatment are for the current stage of the condition.  Your regular doctor may send you to see an ophthalmologist to get a specialist’s opinion on the best course of treatment for you. Be aware that you may need surgery for cataracts at some point because they can significantly impair your vision.  Some cataracts will develop to a certain stage and then stop progressing. In these cases, you may not need surgery. Make sure to get regular eye checkups that measure your eyesight. Wearing the right prescription glasses or contacts can help counter the effects of cataracts in their early stages.  You can get proper prescription glasses or contacts either from your ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Make sure to wear your prescription lenses according to your doctor’s instructions so that you can most effectively counter the cataracts. iI is possible that as the cataract worsens, that your prescription may change rapidly. In fact, your unaided (no glasses) vision may initially improve as the cataract worsens, before it gets worse again. This is all due to the shifting refractive index/error of the lens as the cataract progresses. If you read a lot or are having a difficult time reading, use a magnifying glass to aid you. This can help relieve strain on your eyes and also neutralize the effects of your cataracts.  There are many different types of magnifying glasses from which you can choose. Some models have lights to further assist your reading and others are specifically designed to the contour of your hand. Ask your doctor which type of magnifying glass is best suited for your needs. You can purchase magnifying glasses at many pharmacies and large retailers and some medical supply stores. In your home, replace current light bulbs for brighter options or add more lighting and lamps to your home. This can help you offset any difficulties in vision you may be experiencing from your cataracts.  Purchase the strongest lighting available to you or the strongest wattage light bulbs your lamps will accommodate.  Consider buying only clear light bulbs, which emit a stronger and brighter light than opalescent options. If you go outside during the day, decrease the amount of glare from the sun to which you’re exposed. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat or sunglasses are the best ways to do this.  You may want to inquire with your ophthalmologist or optometrist about prescription sunglasses to further boost the anti-glare and sight effects of sunglasses. Any type of broad-brimmed hat can help reduce glare. Wearing a hat and sunglasses has the added effect of UV-protection for your eyes. Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts, so this can help minimize your risk of exacerbating current cataracts. People with capsular cataracts may benefit from drops that dilate their pupil(s). Speak with your doctor to see if this can help with your cataracts. Be aware that one side effect of these types of eye drops is that they can produce glare, which can make seeing with cataracts worse.  Dilating drops can also affect your ability to read or focus up close. Glare from headlights can make seeing with cataracts difficult and cause double vision. Limit driving during the evening as much as you can to minimize your risk of getting into an accident.  Ask friends or family members to drive you if you need or want to go out at night. You may also want to consider taking public transportation. If you don’t have other options, make sure that your headlights are clean so that they can emit the most amount of light to help you see. Make sure that your windshield is clean both inside and outside so that your vision is optimal.  You may also want to limit driving in the rain, which can increase glare. Your cataracts will likely get to a point where your vision is affected significantly enough to require surgery. Speak to your doctor and schedule an appointment to have your cataracts removed surgically.  Consider surgery once cataracts begin to interfere with your everyday activities. Cataract surgery removes your clouded lens and replaces it with a new, clear lens.  In some cases, your doctor cannot replace the lens because of other eye problems or medical issues. Your doctor can still remove the cataract and prescribe corrective lenses to help you see without a new lens implant.  Cataract surgery is safe in most cases. It can cause infection or bleeding.  Cataract surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis and won’t require a hospital stay. It is the most frequently performed surgery in the U.S. each year. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your doctor will schedule two separate surgeries to help ensure that you have vision in at least one eye.

SUMMARY:
Consult your doctor. Wear an accurate eyeglass or contact prescription. Magnify texts that you read. Enhance lighting in your home. Reduce glare when outdoors. Try medication that dilates your pupil. Limit driving at night. Remove cataracts with surgery.