From the day you bought that first pair of reading glasses, you may have worried that your vision would go steadily downhill. While it’s true that eyes can weaken with age, there’s no law that says all seniors are doomed to poor eyesight. In fact, people can have excellent vision in their 80s and beyond — especially when they’re armed with a little knowledge. Take this quiz to see how much you know about aging eyes.
1. Which of the following is most important for protecting your vision?
a. Sunglasses
b. Limiting your time at the computer
c. A good reading lamp
d. Eyedrops
2. Which of the following is NOT true about presbyopia (diminished ability to focus on objects at close range)?
a. It affects everyone as they age
b. It worsens every year
c. It’s easily corrected with reading glasses
d. It tends to be more severe in farsighted people
3. Which of these eye diseases used to be untreatable?
a. Glaucoma
b. Cataracts
c. Most cases of macular degeneration
d. Diabetic retinopathy
4. Which of the following factors is linked to increased risk for glaucoma?
a. Diabetes
b. Family history of glaucoma
c. African-American heritage
d. All of the above
5. Which of these precautions might help prevent macular degeneration?
a. Regular doses of aspirin
b. Eating spinach and corn
c. Using a reading lamp
d. All of the above
6. Which of the following is usually NOT a symptom of serious eye disease?
a. Dimming peripheral vision
b. Floaters
c. Impaired night vision
d. Halos around lights
7. How can people with diabetes ward off blindness?
a. Control blood pressure
b. Control blood sugar
c. Both a and b
d. Blindness is inevitable
Answers
1. Which of the following is most important for protecting your vision?
The correct answer is: a. Sunglasses
Too much sunlight can damage your eyes and lead to cataracts. That’s why sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat should be standard equipment whenever you’re out in the sun.
2. Which of the following is NOT true about presbyopia (diminished ability to focus on objects at close range)?
The correct answer is: b. It worsens every year
Once you reach age 65 or so, the level of this condition stays fairly constant. Until then, you’ll probably need to