Eyesight and Aging

Eyesight and Aging

Eyesight and Aging

 

 

There is correlation between eyesight and Aging process. Your eyesight, like many other things, does change with age. Almost everyone experiences some decrease in vision as they get older.

Some of elderly vision problems are easy to deal with; others are not. If you have certain medical problems, for example diabetes, you are also at risk for certain vision-threatening complications that are specific to those diseases.

 

Presbyopia

The one condition that gets its name from the process of aging is called presbyopia. Almost everyone who lives long enough develops presbyopia.Presbyopia is the term for the difficulty people have seeing up close as they get older.

While we tend not to think of people aged 40 years as old, presbyopia may start as early as that. As a person has trouble reading up close, he or she will place what they are reading farther away from their eyes, at arms’ length. At some point, when the distance gets so far as to be uncomfortable, reading glasses are needed for clearer vision.

Why does this happen? In order for you to read or see objects clearly that are close to you, your nature crystalline lens has to change its shape. As you get older, the lens loses this ability. If you have normal vision before this, reading glasses, even the kind you can find in the aisles of a pharmacy or supermarket may be enough. If you cannot easily find a pair that helps you read, it is definitely time to visit an eye care professional.

If you already wear glasses because you are nearsighted, you may need bifocals Glasses. There are also progressive bifocal lenses that allow correction of both nearsightedness and presbyopia. Contact lenses can be used instead of or along with glasses.
 

 


The natural Crystalline lens becomes less able to change shape as time goes on. Stronger reading glasses are usually necessary. There are different ways to try to improve near vision, and the choice of what to do will depend on other eye problems as well as personal preference.

The crystalline lens does not stay completely clear, but develops opacities with age. This lens opacity is what called cataracts. Eye care professionals frequently say that everyone who lives long enough will develop cataracts. Some cataracts never bother vision enough to need treatment. If they are interfering with vision, cataracts are removed by taking out the affected lens. A manufactured lens may be placed in the eye’s lens pocket; contact lenses and/or glasses may be needed.

 

 

Age Related Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), as the name suggests, comes on as people get older. The macula is the part of the retina in the back of the eye that is responsible for clear, central vision. Macular degeneration is one of the most common cause of age related vision loss and it affects sight significantly. It is one of the common causes of blindness in Americans of European descent over 65 years of age.

There are two kinds of AMD, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. There are no really good treatment for macular degeneration, but retinal specialists can do a lot to try and keep it from progressing.

Anyone with AMD needs to see an eye doctor expert in treatment of the retina. Wet AMD may be treated with laser therapy and injections of medication into the eye.

 

 

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes also causes problems with the retinal blood vessels. The longer a person has had diabetes and the more poorly it is controlled, the more likely they are to have serious eye problems. The best way to minimize eye damage is to keep blood sugar within range. Diabetics of all ages must be seen regularly by eye doctors, with more treatment expected as they age. Read more about diabetes and eyesight

Many eye care professionals are now recommending antioxidant vitamins, which may slow down the deterioration of vision due to Elderly vision problems such as AMD.

 

Dry Eye

Tear production usually decreases, and dry eyes can cause irritation and foreign body sensation inside the eye. If the cornea is very dry, vision can also be affected. Artificial tears are available over the counter and can help most people. Severe cases of dry eye, often caused by illness as opposed to age alone can be treated with prescription medicine.Other less serious problems can still bother older people and affect vision.

While there are a number of reasons aging impacts on vision, many of the problems have solutions and treatments such that vision can be improved. Regular eye examinations should be a part of the physical examination of older individuals.

Anyone who perceives a decrease in their vision, or has underlying problems that can affect the eye should be seen regularly by an eye doctor.

 

 

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