Risk of Many Eye Conditions Increases with Age

September is Healthy Aging Month. And at Center For Sight, we think that makes it a great time to consider the health of your eyes as you age. Did you know:

One in six Americans who are 65 and older have a vision issue that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

The more candles on your birthday cake, the greater your risk for developing many eye conditions. Still, many seniors don’t have an annual comprehensive eye exam. So, to spotlight the importance of taking care of aging eyes, Center For Sight is partnering with the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Together, we are raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss and offering steps to help seniors take care of their eyes.

Which Vision Conditions are Age-Related?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. This condition runs in families. With AMD, the central portion of the retina (called the macula) deteriorates. And this affects your central vision, negatively impacting everyday activities like driving, reading and recognizing faces.

AMD affects millions of people every year. A visit with one of our board-certified ophthalmologists is the right place to start if you are concerned. Our retina specialists can guide you through managing this sight-stealing condition.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a common eye disease associated with diabetes. In addition, it is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. So, if you have diabetes, please work closely with the Center For Sight retina eye doctors to monitor and treat this disease.

Some eye diseases only occur in diabetic patients. For this reason, suggest you speak with a doctor to learn more about the risk diabetes puts on your eyes.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve located in the back of your eye. This damage is most often caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye. additionally, it more often occurs in patients over the age of 60 and over 40 if Hispanic or African American. Glaucoma is at least partially hereditary, but research is still ongoing into how your risk is affected by family history. Glaucoma within your family does not guarantee you will develop the condition, but it is a risk factor you should discuss with your doctor.

Symptoms start slowly, so you may not even notice them until the condition has developed further. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.

Presbyopia

If you are over the age of 40, you might have noticed your vision has changed. Maybe you are having difficulty reading the text on your phone, book, menu or computer screen. This condition is called age-related presbyopia, also known as “over-40 vision.” It is unavoidable, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Additionally, around this time, many people begin to have to purchase store-bought reading glasses.

Thankfully, the vision experts at Center For Sight are equipped with solutions (beyond reading glasses!) for your over-40 vision challenges. Not sure if you’re ready for help with your reading vision? Take this quiz to find out.

Cataracts

As you age, cloudiness can develop on the natural lens of your eye, causing your vision to blur. This lens must be clear to focus light properly onto the retina, which is the layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. But when the lens becomes too thick and cloudy, it is called a cataract. Millions of Americans currently live with cataracts, and many more will develop them by the age of 65.

But you don’t want to spend your prime years with less than prime vision, right? At Center For Sight, we are leaders in the treatment of cataracts. And great news: advances have made cataract surgery safer and more effective than ever before! In fact, today’s advanced technology lenses are designed to help you live your life…the way you want to live it. While none of today’s lens options can promise 20/20 vision at all distances, most patients who choose an advanced lens are glasses-free for most of their daily activities. Additionally, they are thrilled with their vision after cataract surgery.

So, whether you love to play golf, swim, hike, knit or enjoy a great book, we have a procedure tailor-made to give you the opportunity to have 20/Happy vision. Schedule your cataract evaluation today.

Golden Vision for your Golden Years

Here is a pro tip: don’t skip your annual sight-saving exam! Annual comprehensive eye exams are critical as they can reveal hidden signs of disease, allowing for more timely treatment. For this reason, we recommend adults have them annually or more often as recommended.

“Our focus on comprehensive eye health means we watch for anything and everything that might affect your eyes. From basic eye exams to dry eye check-ups, we strive to safeguard every aspect of your eye health.”

Eva Liang, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Center For Sight

At Center For Sight, we want all of our patients to enjoy a high quality of life in every season. And that includes your golden years! Our doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and managing many age-related eye conditions. So Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today to make sure your eyes are healthy for a lifetime.