Tips to Preserve and Protect Eye Health during Older Age

One of the most common vision problems associated with aging is the development of a condition known as presbyopia. This involves changes to near vision that often prompt people in their 40s or 50s to start wearing reading glasses even if they’ve never worn prescription lenses before. This condition arises because the lenses of the eyes tend to get larger and less pliable with age.

Some of the other notable vision changes and conditions that may arise with aging include:

• Intermediate vision loss – A loss of crisp vision in the intermediate field of view may affect a person’s ability to see computer screens clearly.
• Dry eye – This condition is reported among people of just about any age, but does tend to impact people more readily as they age.
• Cataracts – This is not a “normal” part of aging, but the condition does tend to develop most commonly in older individuals. When a cataract begins to form, a person may notice a gradual clouding over of the eye’s natural lens. The result of an active cataract is a blurring of vision that will only get worse as time passes, potentially leading to blindness. This condition can be treated using a highly successful laser procedure.
• Glaucoma – This condition arises when pressure on the optic nerve causes a loss of peripheral vision. In extreme cases, vision may be lost entirely. Much less common than cataracts, glaucoma does not have a cure, but can be effectively managed in most cases with the use of medicated eye drops.

Preventing changes to vision may not be entirely possible with age, but there are steps people can take to decrease risks while enabling faster detection of any serious problems that may arise. Eyecare professionals recommend that everyone take these precautions, regardless of age:

• Wear sunglasses that protect from damaging UVA and UVB rays anytime sun exposure is likely. The best move is to always have sunglasses on hand during daytime trips outdoors.
• Don’t smoke or kick the habit immediately if it has already been developed.
• Take steps to control blood pressure if concerns about elevated levels have been raised by a family physician or other healthcare provider.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in vegetables. Foods that contain high levels of vitamins C and E are great choices. Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, can also be helpful for maintaining eye health.
• Go for routine eye exams as recommended by an ophthalmologist. It is suggested that even a person with perfect vision go in for an exam at the age of 40. Follow the exam schedule as recommended by the eyecare professional.

Some vision changes are inevitable with aging, but preserving and protecting overall eye health is possible. To know more, consult with a qualified eye doctor.

This article is written by Jim Kounnas, CEO of Kounopt. Kounopt.com is one of the leading providers of the quality eyeglasses, frames and sunglasses online. They provide advanced hi-tech freeform lenses using the latest machinery and software from the US and Europe. They have a huge selection of name brand eyeglasses such as Silhouette, Carrera, and Calvin Klein including thousands of discount eyeglasses.