It is a fact of life that as we age, our vision begins to change. There are a number of eye health issues to watch out for.
People who have never worn glasses find out that they need them for reading or driving. People who drive at all hours of the day and night with no problem suddenly encounter problems driving at night. Objects are fuzzy, whether far away or close up. There are several eye issues to watch out for as we age, so be sure to check with your eye doctor every year to six months depending on what they might find.
Here are just some of the vision issues that aging individuals may have to deal with as the years go on. Many can be managed through surgery or medication.
1. Cataracts
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye gets cloudy. The lens of the eye directs light onto the back of the eye. A clear lens projects pictures in focus depending on the shape of our lens. When that lens becomes cloudy, it is hard for us to see well. It’s sort of like looking through a dirty window all the time, or opaque glass instead of clear. Cataracts that form on our lenses result in poor vision that can only be corrected with surgery. The cloudy lens is removed and a new artificial lens is put in its place.
2. Detached retina
The retina is essential to your sight. It sends impulses to the brain and receives information that results in the objects that we see. Problems with the retina such as a detached retina can impact our vision. The retina needs to be repaired to fix our vision problems. If it isn’t fixed, it will die from lack of oxygen and you will lose your vision. A detached retina can result from injury, such as a blow, or through playing contact sports. It can also result from the eye changing shape as we age. If you see anything jagged-looking in your line of vision, or a glowing object, treat it as a medical emergency and go see your eye specialist. They should be able to correct it right away with laser surgery.
3. Corneal transplant
The cornea covers the lens and the opening to the back of the eye. A scratched cornea or one that becomes injured impacts our vision. Even the lens can’t compensate for a faulty cornea. Donor corneas are used to replace a damaged cornea.
4. Glaucoma
This condition affects mostly older people and is the result of high pressure in the eyes, termed interocular pressure. Glaucoma can cause blindness through damage to the eye due to high fluid pressures in the eye. Medication and other conditions can raise the pressure. Glaucoma surgery relieves the pressure in the eye and attempts to prevent the fluid from building up again. They may put a stent or drain in the eye to stop the pressure from building up.
5. Dry eye
The eyes produce tears that clean away dust and dirt, and keep the eyeball lubricated. As we age, we can produce less tears, leading to itchy, scratchy-feeling eyes. Dry eyes can become more and more irritated, leading to redness and decreased vision. In extreme cases it can lead to eye damage through the lid of the eye blinking and constantly scratching up and down over a dry eye. This condition can be corrected with artificial tear drops, or an exploration of the tear ducts to see if there is a physiological reason why they are not working. Some medications can help.
6. Presbyopia
This is being far sighted, that is, being able to see at a distance, but needing reading glasses for things close up. This is not an uncommon problem as we age. Our visual acuity lessens and the focus of objects is not what it used to be. Many optometrists prescribe reading glasses to restore proper vision. However, it is important to note your eyes may worsen once you start wearing them because the muscles in your eyes will change.
7. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
The macula is the central part of the eye, and can experience significant changes as it ages. Macular degeneration causes loss in the center of the field of vision. In dry macular degeneration, the center of the retina deteriorates. With wet macular degeneration, leaky blood vessels grow under the retina. Blurry vision is a key symptom of both kinds of AMD
A special combination of vitamins and minerals (the AREDS formula from Bausch and Lomb, commonly sold under the brand name Ocuvite, may reduce disease progression. Surgery may also be an option.
Our eyes are very precious and need to be taken care of well into our senior years. If you haven’t been to an eye doctor recently, it’s time to schedule an appointment for a checkup on your eye health.
