THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

The other health conditions made worse by declining eyesight. This week: Memory

STRUGGLING to see could affect memory and make you more confused; that’s the finding from an analysis of data from 200,000 adults in North and South America, showing that 18 per cent of people who had sight problems also struggled with memory or became easily confused.

The researchers behind the 2019 research, published in the journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, suggest that changes in the retina (the lightsensitive area at the back of the eye) may be linked to dementia. Previous studies identified thinning nerves in the retina in dementia patients. This may be because the nerves are made of the same type of tissue as in the brain, reflecting similar damage. If your vision is impaired, you’re also unable to watch TV or read, says Badrul Hussain, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. This can lead to increased depression and anxiety, and in turn, a decline in cognitive function, including memory loss. He suggests seeing an expert for conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and diabetes-related eye problems, as they may be treatable. ‘Otherwise, keep up your normal activities with the help of low vision aids, magnifiers, and even just an overhead reading light,’ he adds.