Aging eyes: recognizing disease and supporting eye health

Of all the senses, sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, which one is most important to you?

According to one survey, 8 out of 10 respondents reported that their sense of vision was the most important to them, yet only half had visited an eye doctor in the past year.

Unfortunately, many do not fully understand the role that regular eye exams play in health and how to support eye health throughout life. Seniors are at risk for several vision problems, but they can be prevented or caught early with regular eye exams and lifestyle changes.

Common vision problems affecting seniors

GLAUCOMA>> Glaucoma is a condition caused by too much fluid pressure in the eye, which can cause vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Early warning signs of glaucoma include headaches, vision loss, patchy vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, eye redness or seeing halos around lights. Glaucoma can be detected with eye dilation during a routine eye exam and treated with drops, laser treatment, or surgery. CATARACTS>> A cataract is a cloudy spot on the lens of the eye that will cause blurred vision, making it difficult to do daily activities such as reading. Cataracts can be easily removed with surgery.

Aging-related macular degeneration: Detected during a dilated eye exam, macular degeneration affects the sharp central vision required for the eyes to focus on things like reading and driving. Those with macular degeneration might first notice distortions in vision — such as blurriness or straight lines appearing wavy — and be unable to see in dim lighting. There is no cure, but treatments are available to slow the progression of the disease and prevent it from worsening. DIABETIC RETINOPATHY>> Those with diabetes — particularly whose blood sugar is uncontrolled — are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, which develops slowly but is detectable with a dilated eye exam. Early warning signs include blurred or distorted vision, loss of the ability to detect color, or seeing spots. DRY EYE>> Commonly affecting older adults, especially women, dry eye is the result of improperly functioning tear ducts and produces a grainy sensation, as though a piece of sand were caught in the eye. Dry eye is treatable with both prescription and over the counter eye drops or ointments. Using a humidifier at home can also help ease symptoms.

Prevention

The vision conditions affecting seniors might seem overwhelming, yet there are still several significant and simple ways to take care of your eyes and potentially even prevent vision problems from occurring.

Most important is to get regular eye exams — even if you do not think you are having any issues with your vision. Do not ignore any early warning signs of eye disease.

Take care to protect your eye health in your lifestyle choices:

• Wear sunglasses or a hat when outdoors.

• Limit the amount of time spent looking at a screen.

• Avoid working in dim lighting.

• Consume a diet rich in orange and yellow pigmented produce, which are high in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and may help lower the risk of aging-related vision problems.

• Quit smoking.

• Get adequate sleep. While the aging of your eyes is inevitable, with awareness of disease warning signs and ways to promote eye health in everyday life, the loss of your vision is most certainly not.