Effects of Ageing on our Eye Health

 A person experience changes to their eyesight as they age and this is inevitable.

It’s essential to stay on the watch for signs of age-related vision loss the older we get. It’s typical to see the eye-related problems at as early as 40.  As eye health professionals, one of our priorities is making sure our patients are informed so that they both know what to expect and can minimize any risks they may have.

One should be cautious about age-related signs of vision loss. As eye health professionals it’s our duty to inform our patients what to expect and how they can minimize any risks they may have.

Facts related to vision changes with age

• Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults above 40 years of age. It’s the most common disease among diabetics.
• Age-related macular degeneration or (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in the population above 60 of age.
• By the age of 80 people are more susceptible to have a cataract or a cataract surgery.

Common Age-Related Eye Conditions

These are some of the most common vision changes associated with age:

• We require more light to see by. As we get older, we often need more light to see by, so you might start needing a few more work lamps and reading lights in your life.
• Difficulty at reading and do close work. Over time, the lenses in our eyes can become less flexible, making it harder to focus on close-up things. This is called presbyopia.
• Sensitive to glare. This can be particularly difficult while driving.
• Slight changes in colour perception. The clear lens in the eye can discolour, distorting the colours we see somewhat.
• Reduced tear production. Having enough tears is essential for keeping your eyes healthy and for maintaining clear vision.
• Diabetic Retinopathy. Having enough tears is essential for keeping your eyes healthy and for maintaining clear vision.

Age-Related Sight-Threatening Conditions

You face problem reading things up-close you have probably developed presbyopia, its a common change related to age. This means the eyes don’t focus well as they used to.

The above changes can be frustrating and things like presbyopia and dry eye can be treated with reading glasses and eye drops, but there are also more serious vision problems associated with age, such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Many of these eye conditions can be treated, delayed, or even reversed, and improvements in technology and science may lead to even better prognoses in the future. Early detection is critical, which is why regular eye exams are so important as we get older.

What You Can Do for Your Eyesight

It’s a good time to go for a full eye check-up. An eye doctor will check your eye pressure, your retina for signs of damage, evaluate tear production and any other eye or vision problem. After this, you should have a comprehensive eye examination every two years.

In between your eye exams, there’s a lot you can do to promote your healthy vision. A major one is simply to live a healthy lifestyle. Stay active, eat healthily, and don’t smoke. These will all reduce your chances of developing sight-threatening conditions, not to mention what they can do for your overall health! Just make sure to also wear UV-blocking sunglasses when you’re out in the sun!

Meanwhile, if you struggle with eye strain, it could be because of screen time, particularly if you spend your work hours staring at a computer screen. To give your eyes a break, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds focusing on something at least 20 feet away.

Even though these conditions are age-related they can be still be significantly delayed or prevented.