What Should Seniors Know About Eye Health and Disease Prevention?
Vision is precious, and several eye conditions become more common with age. Understanding eye health and disease prevention helps seniors protect their sight and detect problems early when treatment is most effective.
Age-Related Eye Changes
Presbyopia, difficulty focusing on near objects, affects virtually everyone by their mid-40s. The lens becomes less flexible, making reading glasses necessary. This normal change is not preventable but is easily corrected.
Dry eyes become more common with age as tear production decreases. Symptoms include irritation, burning, and paradoxically, watery eyes. Artificial tears and other treatments provide relief.
Floaters, small spots or strands in vision, are usually harmless but sudden increases warrant evaluation. Pupils may become smaller, reducing light reaching the retina. More light is needed for comfortable vision.
Common Eye Diseases
Cataracts are clouding of the lens that affects most people eventually. Vision becomes blurry, colors fade, and glare increases. Cataract surgery replaces the clouded lens with a clear artificial one. Surgery is highly successful and usually outpatient.
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually from elevated eye pressure. It causes gradual peripheral vision loss that progresses to blindness if untreated. Regular screening is essential because damage occurs before symptoms are noticed. Treatment with drops, lasers, or surgery can prevent progression.
Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision needed for reading and recognizing faces. Dry AMD progresses slowly. Wet AMD causes faster vision loss but is treatable with eye injections. Early detection enables treatment before significant vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy damages blood vessels in the retina. It is a leading cause of blindness in adults. Good blood sugar control reduces risk. Regular dilated eye exams detect problems early when treatment can prevent vision loss.
Protecting Eye Health
Regular eye examinations detect problems before they cause irreversible damage. Dilated exams allow visualization of the retina. Adults over 60 should have comprehensive dilated eye exams at least every two years.
Control systemic conditions affecting eyes. Blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol management all protect eye health. What protects the heart protects the eyes.
Wear sunglasses blocking UV radiation. Cumulative sun exposure increases cataract and macular degeneration risk. Sunglasses should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
Quit smoking. Smoking increases risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage. Quitting reduces risk.
Eat a healthy diet rich in leafy greens, colorful vegetables, and fish. Nutrients including lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins C and E may support eye health.
When to Seek Care
Sudden vision changes, flashes of light, sudden increase in floaters, eye pain, and red eyes warrant prompt evaluation. These may indicate serious conditions requiring urgent treatment.
Getting Eye Care Support
All Seniors Foundation encourages regular eye examinations for all seniors. Protecting vision protects quality of life. Contact us for help accessing eye care services.
