As we age, our eye health and vision naturally decline, leading to conditions such as refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome, to name a few. While some issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness can be corrected with glasses or surgery, others like glaucoma and AMD can lead to permanent vision loss if not detected early. Regular eye exams are essential for early detection and treatment. To protect your vision as you age, experts recommend wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, taking screen breaks, following the 20-20-20 rule, eating a nutrient-rich diet, staying active, and avoiding smoking. All of these help maintain eye health and reduce the risk of severe conditions.
Common Conditions for Aging Eyes
Refractive Errors
Some patients only experience refractive errors as they age, such as:
- Nearsightedness (myopia)
- Farsightedness (hyperopia)
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
In these cases, solutions like glasses, contact lenses, or even corrective surgery (LASIK, for instance) can correct vision, allowing the patient to continue seeing clearly.
Cataracts
Older patients are also inclined to develop cataracts, or cloudiness on the lens of either or both eyes. Cataract surgery is a common and effective solution to correct cataracts. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist replaces the lens or lenses with synthetic ones, restoring clearer, sharper vision.
Low Vision Conditions
Other conditions that can arise with age are more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to correct or improve if detected too late. Often called low-vision conditions, these include:
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that leads to vision loss or even total blindness if not detected and managed early. It typically arises in older patients, particularly those 60 or older, who have a family history of glaucoma or are of certain races. Those of Hispanic or African descent are more at risk than others.
Glaucoma is a slow-progressing disease wherein damage to the optic nerve results in declining vision or complete vision loss. Warning signs do not arise, causing this disease to go unnoticed until it is too late. That’s why regular eye exams are so critical for anyone, especially older adults.
Macular degeneration
Macular degeneration, sometimes called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), occurs when the macula (the part of the retina responsible for producing clear central vision) is damaged. Patients can develop wet AMD, wherein blood vessels grow in the eye, damaging the macula, or dry AMD, wherein the macula begins thinning out.
Nearly all AMD patients experience dry AMD first. It’s rare for the condition to progress to wet AMD, but it is possible.
Like glaucoma, AMD does not produce signs or symptoms until it is too late to do anything about it. Again, eye exams are crucial to catch and begin treating diseases like AMD or glaucoma.
Diabetic retinopathy
Patients with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which is caused by too much sugar in the blood. A high amount of blood sugar tends to lead to blood vessel damage throughout the body, including the vessels in the eyes. Should these vessels experience damage and blood is prevented from flowing, then there is a risk of the vessels leaking. Plus, new and weaker vessels may grow, increasing the possibility of leakage or bleeding.
Patients with diabetic retinopathy often notice vision changes, including:
- Dark spots in their line of vision
- Cobweb-like streaks in their vision
If you have diabetes, be sure to let your eye doctor know so they can monitor your eyes and check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Tips for Protecting Your Eyes as You Age
Aging doesn’t guarantee that your vision will worsen or your ocular health will decline. There are several steps you can take to boost your eye health and be better protected against developing vision-altering conditions. Some of our tips include:
Protect Your Eyes While in the Sun
When out and about on a sunny day, wear polarized sunglasses that block UV rays. You can even throw on a wide-brimmed hat or ball cap for even better blockage.
Protect Your Eyes While on the Computer
If you are frequently on a computer, give your eyes a break every now and then by following the 20-20-20 rule:
- Take a break every 20 minutes.
- On your break, stare at something 20 feet away.
- Keep staring for at least 20 seconds.
Doing this helps keep your eyes stronger and protects against eye strain.
Eat an Eye-Healthy Diet
Strive to eat plenty of vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods. The best nutrients for your eyes include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods like salmon, tuna, halibut, flaxseed, and walnuts)
- Vitamin D (found in foods like oranges, eggs, broccoli, corn, kale, and squash)
- Vitamin A (found in foods like carrots, cantaloupe, spinach, red peppers, and sweet potatoes)
- Zinc (found in chickpeas, red meat, yogurt, and pork chops)
- Vitamin E (found in almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, hazelnuts, and spinach)
Stay Active
It might surprise you to hear that physical movement is good for your eyes, but a healthy body helps boost your eye health, as well. From helping control (or even reduce) weight to helping maintain normal blood pressure, staying active is a great way to promote and help maintain healthier eyes.
Stop Smoking (or Don’t Start)
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your body for a variety of reasons. Along with damaging your heart and lungs, smoking can damage eye tissue, from your retina and macula to your eye lenses, increasing your likelihood of developing macular degeneration and/or cataracts.
Even if you have spent years smoking, quitting will lower your risk of developing either condition. Plus, it will do a world of good for the rest of your body, too.
We understand that quitting smoking isn’t easy. For help, check out these resources:
For even more senior eye health tips or for exceptional senior eye care, schedule an appointment with Vision Eye Group.
The ophthalmologists and optometrists at Vision Eye Group are ready to provide the care you need to protect your eyes, no matter your age. Whether you’ve noticed changes to your vision or you’d like to monitor your eye health on a routine basis, we have the solutions you’re looking for.
Schedule your eye exam with Vision Eye Group today: 478-744-1710
Vision Eye Group serves patients throughout Middle Georgia with offices in Macon, GA, and Warner Robins, GA.
Recent Articles