Remember when you could sit down to read a newspaper without reaching for your glasses? You may never have those young eyes again, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a life of poor vision. In fact, many people have good eyesight well into their eighties and beyond. While some changes are inevitable, with a few simple steps you can ensure the best vision possible for your circumstances.
- See an optometrist or ophthalmologist every one to two years under normal circumstances, or once a year if you have diabetes or a family history of eye diseases. Most serious eye diseases are easily treated if they’re caught in time. An ophthalmologist can also check your eyesight and, if needed, change the prescription on your glasses.
- Contact an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience a sudden loss of eyesight, pain in the eye, double vision, unusual fluids seeping from the eye, or extreme redness or swelling of the eye or eyelid — particularly if you have diabetes or a family history of eye diseases.
- Wear sunglasses with ultraviolet protection and a wide-brimmed hat when you venture into the sun. Its rays can damage eye tissue and increase your risk of developing cataracts.
- Make sure your diet includes sufficient vitamins and minerals. To maintain good eyesight, you need to take in the proper amounts of B vitamins; the antioxidants A, C, and E; and the mineral zinc. Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially yellow and yellow-orange foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes, are good sources of these nutrients. Many experts also believe that seniors should take a daily multivitamin as an added source of nutrients.
What eye diseases commonly afflict seniors?
Here are brief descriptions of diseases that commonly rob seniors of their sight, as well as information on treating and preventing them.
1. Cataracts.
A cataract is a gradual clouding of your eye’s lens, marked by blurred vision, impaired night vision, and halos around lights. If these problems start interfering with your life, discuss cataract surgery with your opthalmologist.
Cataracts can cause blindness if left untreated, but fortunately, the disease rarely progresses that far: Surgery to remove cataracts is so common and so effective that few people suffer permanent damage nowadays.
Cataracts are most common in people over 60, and the risks are higher for people with diabetes and those who take corticosteroids, diuretics, and heavy tranquilizers. Excess exposure to sun is also a risk factor, so cover up when you go outside. And if you smoke, quit.
2. Glaucoma.
This occurs when fluids that normally flow in and out of the eye drain improperly, increasing the pressure inside the eye and eventually damaging the optic nerve. The disease is a major cause of blindness in the United States — African Americans are at increased risk — but early treatment can stop its progression.
Unfortunately, most people don’t notice any symptoms until permanent damage has occurred. That’s why regular trips to your ophthalmologist are crucial, especially if someone in your immediate family has the disease, or if you have diabetes or are over age 60. It can also develop at a much earlier age, so have your eyes tested every one to two years starting around age 40.
If glaucoma is caught in time, eye drops, medication, or surgery can almost always spare your vision.
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3. Macular degeneration.
This disease of the retina is the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. It results when the macula,