Senior Eye Health

Insight may improve with age, but it’s not the same case for your sight. The older you get, the more important regular eye exams are to monitor your eyes, detect, and treat disease to preserve your sight. By age 65, 1-in-3 Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Most people don’t realize it because often there are no warning signs or symptoms, or they assume that poor sight is a natural part of growing older that should be accepted. The only truth I would encourage you to accept is that annual eye exams are critical to good vision and overall health, especially as we get older.

The four most common eye diseases seniors face are cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Below is a quick look at these diseases, their symptoms, and the things seniors should watch out for .

Cataracts
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye, and most cases are age-related. By age 80, more than half of Americans have had cataracts or cataract surgery. Cloudy vision, glare, halo effect, poor night vision, and frequent prescription changes could indicate cataracts. Early detection of cataracts could mean simple treatment including new glasses, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. Other than that, surgery is the only treatment and involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing with a lens implant.

Glaucoma
People age 60 and over are at a higher risk of having glaucoma, especially those with diabetes or those with a family history of glaucoma. African Americans are especially vulnerable to this sight-threatening disease. Glaucoma is a leading form of blindness, but often there are no warning symptoms. As glaucoma progresses, it slowly damages the eye’s optic nerve fibers creating blind spots. Medication or eye drops are usually indicated for early glaucoma. This is why annual eye exams are so important. More advanced cases may require laser or conventional surgery.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people ages 60 and older. AMD affects the macula, causing blurred vision particularly in straight ahead, detail-oriented activities like reading, driving, and sewing. Medication and laser surgery can help some cases, and early detection can help preserve precious sight. You should see your eye doctor to determine effective treatment options.

Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of vision impairing eye problems that people with diabetes may develop such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.

By detecting and treating diabetic eye disease early through annual eye exams, people with diabetes can preserve their sight. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the US.

Seniors: your eyes can’t afford to wait—Schedule an eye exam today at a Pearle Vision Independent Doctor of Optometry near you.