| Reply 1 : Eye sight naturally worsens with age, like all other parts of your body. If you are over forty five years of age, you should be extra vigilant. Spotting a problem early increases chances of treatment and possible cure also. The common symptoms you should be wary of are pain or discomfort in the eyes, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. If you experience any of these, you need to consult an ophthalmologist straight away for further evaluation. Spotting age-related Eye Diseases
- If you see a straight line as wavy, it may be the first sign of an eye condition called as AMD (age-related macular degeneration). Macula is a small, sensitive central area of the retina that controls your central vision. When this macula is damaged due to aging, you cannot see the central object in your field of vision. This creates difficulty in regular tasks like reading and driving. For example, when you look at your picture, you cannot focus on the face and it appears as an empty, dark area.
- Glacoma is another common age-related eye condition. It causes loss of peripheral vision. This is also called tunnel vision because it is like looking through a tunnel where the edges of your field of vision black out. This happens because of excessive pressure and damage to the optic nerve, which is at the back of the eye. Other symptoms of Glaucoma are pain and redness in the eyes.
The good news is that both Glaucoma and AMD are treatable with medications, lasers or surgery if detected early.
- Cataract is another and a more common cause of eye problems in old age. According to a World Health Report by WHO, an increasing number of people over sixty are undergoing cataract surgery. Cataract is a condition where the clear lens of the eye becomes clouded or opaque. This happens slowly and painlessly. The most common symptom of cataract is blurry vision.
Sensitivity to light or glare is another early indication. It may be difficult to drive at night. Untreated cataract can lead to blindness. However, it can be treated by a simple surgery in which the clouded lens is replaced with a clear, artificial lens. Cataract surgery is widely successful.
- Diabetes and obesity also put you at risk of developing eye diseases. If you are a smoker, then the risk of eye diseases increases along with a host of other health risks.
Dealing with age-related Eye Diseases
The best way to deal with age-related Eye Diseases is to spot them early and get treated. All of these eye diseases can be detected by simple eye examinations. But some of these eye conditions develop slowly and painlessly that you may fail to notice them. For example, Glaucoma may not produce any symptoms until it actually worsens to a significant extent. Therefore, it is advisable to have regular eye check-ups. If you are over forty-five, you should have your eyes examined at least twice in a year.
Spotting an eye disease early increase the chances of successful treatment. You can also avoid any problems that may be causing the eye disease. For example, certain medications you may be using may be causing the eye disease. Early treatment may cure the eye diseases or at least prevent further degeneration to save blindness. |
