Posted by Gerald J. Turner –
As we grow older, our eyesight is one of the things that begins to change. While the majority of the time a senior citizen’s eyesight will never diminish to the point where they cannot function properly, you should be prepared for any vision related problems that you experience as a senior and learn how to confront them.
Ophthalmologists agree that the age of 60 is when significant vision related problems generally decide to show up. The bad news is that many of these eye issues do not present any warning signs.
The good news? Most are treatable. Below are a few common age-related eye and vision problems and how to treat them.
Cataracts are a relatively common vision problem among senior citizens, and present as cloudy areas in the lens of one or both eyes. Blurry vision usually follows, as does a decreased sensitivity to bright colors. Fortunately, the surgery to repair cataracts is a common outpatient one and involves removing the defective clouded lens and replacing it with a new, artificial one.
Chronic dry eye is another common vision related problem among elders. The symptoms of this condition are practically self-evident. You may notice that your eyes feel dry, itchy, or burn, after reading or working at a computer for a period of time. Treatment includes over the counter medications such as Visine or more in-depth surgical procedures to conserve tears. It is also advisable to wear sunglasses and drink eight to ten glasses of water per day to stay hydrated.
Glaucoma is a “group of eye diseases” according to the American Optometric Association, in which the optic nerve becomes damaged, due to high eye pressure. Symptoms include a loss of peripheral vision. One common treatment includes surgery to drain the aqueous humor, thereby decreasing fluid production. If you think you have glaucoma or any other serious vision problem, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately before the condition worsens.
With a little proactive attention, you can make sure that your eyesight stays as healthy as possible. And as always, if you have any medical questions be sure to contact your physician.
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