If You’re Fifty and You Know It, Check Your Eyes!

By Maura Keller

If age 50, 60 or beyond is fast approaching, new vision concerns may be within your sight. It is natural for some vision changes to occur by age 50. But more serious conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration become more prevalent in later years. And while you can’t do much to prevent them, early detection and treatment can often slow their progress.

Millions of Americans suffer some degree of vision loss due to such common eye diseases as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. In fact, it’s become almost an accepted tenet that our eyesight will deteriorate with age. In spite of the rapid technological advances in eye surgery, your best means of defense against vision loss are still regular eye exams, protective eye wear and taking the necessary steps to keep your eyes healthy.

Cataracts

According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts often create a picture that is smudgy and blurred. Some people say that trying to see with cataracts is like trying to see through a dirty windshield. People with cataracts also often notice changes in colors, especially blues and greens, or they report that objects have a yellowish cast. In addition, lights, especially headlights on vehicles traveling at night, seem to throw off much more glare than usual.

Dry Eyes

Have you ever experienced the feeling of dry eyes? This is a common condition in older adults and it involves an insufficient amount of tears to lubricate the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining your eyes’ health and for providing clear vision.

Macular Degeneration

People with age-related macular degeneration often notice that the center of their field of vision is blurred, but the outside edges seem all right. Although they may see a central image, it might appear very dim, it might not appear at all or it might appear to blink on and off.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which elevated pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve, causing loss of peripheral vision and then total blindness. It is the second-leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It is important to remember that there may be no early warning signs, so optometrical exams are crucial. Otherwise, pain, blurred vision and the appearance of colored rings around lights are leading indicators.

Other Subtle Changes

According to the American Optometric Association, just like the body, the eyes and vision change over time. Aging changes in various parts of the eye can result in a number of noticeable differences in how well a person can see. While not everyone will experience the same level of symptoms, the following are common age-related vision changes:

Need for More Light – As you age, you need more light to see as well as you did in years past. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other near tasks easier.
Difficulty Reading and Doing Close Work – Printed materials are not as clear as before, in part because the lens in your eye becomes less flexible with time. This makes it harder for your eyes to focus near objects with the same ability you had when you were younger.

Problems with Glare – You may notice additional glare from headlights at night or sun reflecting off of windshields or pavement during the day, making it more difficult to drive. Changes within the lens in your eye cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina, thus creating more glare.

Changes in Color Perception – The normally clear lens located inside your eye may start to discolor, making it harder to see and distinguish between certain shades of colors.

Steps To Take

Regular eye examinations are important at every stage of life. A comprehensive eye exam will not only measure how well you see, but assess the health of your eyes as well. Individuals between the ages of 41 and 60 should visit the optometrist every two years. Annual exams are recommended for those over age 61. People with specific problems or risk factors may need more frequent visits. If you have vision
problems, you should be seeing your ophthalmologist once a year.

According to Ryo Kubota, M.D., Ph.D., the world-renowned ophthalmologist who discovered the gene that causes glaucoma and chief executive officer of Acucela, if you have vision problems, you should be seeing your ophthalmologist once a year. “If you don’t, now is the time to start [seeing your ophthalmologist] in order to prevent common eye problems associated with aging, like dry age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. for people over age 50,” Kubota says.

Also, if your family has a history of eye disease or certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you may need to see your ophthalmologist or optometrist more often.

Other steps to take include:

Protect Against the Sun’s Harmful Rays.
Since long-term exposure to ultraviolet light may damage the lens, protect your eyes every day by wearing sunglasses and a wide brim hat while outside. Wear only sunglasses that block 99 percent of both UVA and UVB light.

Light On the Subject
Appropriate lighting reduces glares and shadow, which tire the eyes. Two light sources are best when you read; one to illuminate the whole room, and another to throw light over your left shoulder.
Bigger is Better. As you age, you may start to experience “low vision,” so don’t strain your eyes by trying to see things more clearly. Instead, consider changing the lighting in a room, reading large-print books and writing with a bolder, felt-tip pen.

Feed Your Eyes.
Our eyes are an integral part of our bodies and are dependent on good nutrition for optimal functioning. Surprisingly enough, the brain and visual system, while accounting for only about 2 percent of your body weight, use up about 25 percent of your nutritional intake. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E will help keep your vision in line. With a little attention paid to general nutritional guidelines, you should be able to “feed your eyes” optimally and see well for years to come.

Know Your O’s

Is your eye care provider an M.D. or an O.D? Does it really matter? While occupations in the eye care industry all start with the same letter, they have different roles.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors with degrees from a medical school. They also have one or more years of general hospital experience, and three or more years in an eye residency program. Ophthalmologists prescribe medicine, glasses, contacts and often perform surgery.

Optometrists have a doctor of optometry degree. They screen patients for eye problems and diseases and prescribe glasses and contact lenses. Optometrists generally complete four years of college and spend four years at an optometric college.

Opticians are licensed to fill prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses. They cannot examine eyes.

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