Your Vision in Advancing Age...
Just as you may have noticed some subtle changes with your body as you advance in age, your eyes experience age-related changes too. Some expected & extremely common eye related changes include presbyopia and cataracts.
Sometimes more serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy are experienced. While these conditions have a greater potential of affecting our quality of sight as we grow older, these medical conditions, when detected early, have good potential to be treated and managed effectively.
Sometimes more serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy are experienced. While these conditions have a greater potential of affecting our quality of sight as we grow older, these medical conditions, when detected early, have good potential to be treated and managed effectively.
Presbyopia
Occurring around age 40, presbyopia is typical. You’ll notice that it may become more difficult to focus on objects at a near distance. Colored or small print on bottles, appliances, and newsprint becomes difficult to read. You may have already adjusted the font size on your hand-held electronic device! For a time, you can compensate by just holding reading material farther away from your eyes by extending your arms. However, before you know it, you’ll find that your arms aren’t long enough and you’ll eventually need reading glasses, multifocal lenses, corrective monovision LASIK, or CK surgery. This is due to an inability of your lens to bend & constrict the way in which it did years ago. It is due to an inability to accommodate effectively, otherwise known as accommodative insufficiency or presbyopia.
Cataracts
Research sites that about half of 65 year-old Americans have some degree of cataract formation in their eyes, & those numbers increase to 100% over the ensuing years. The good news is that cataract surgery is extremely safe and effective. During your eye examination our doctor is able to detect whether you have cataracts and if you are ready to have these removed. It’s often better to have cataracts removed before they advance too far. When cataracts are removed, a new Intraocular Lens (IOL) is implanted. The IOL can restore your vision better to where it was prior to surgery. There are many different types of IOL’s. Various Multifocal and Toric IOL’s are now available. These lenses can restore greater ranges of vision, reducing your need for reading glasses as well as distance glasses after surgery.
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is a medical condition affecting older adults and results in a loss of central vision. The central part of the retina, the macula, becomes diseased. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (>50 years). Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life. Currently there is no cure, but significant strides have been obtained in recent years in effort to control the disease. Medical treatment may stabilize and slow its progression. This might include a referral to a Retinal Specialist for treatment for advanced stages of degeneration.
Glaucoma
Occurring most often after the age of 40, Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. It is a disease which progressively damages the nerve fiber layers that collectively form the optic nerve. It is characterized by loss of this nerve tissue resulting in loss of vision. Early stages of the disease will primarily affect small portions of the peripheral vision & go unnoticed by the person affected. Early detection of this disease is key and allows treatment with the goal of preventing further vision loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease which may occur in persons with Diabetes. It can cause permanent damage to the retina, and is a serious sight threatening complication of diabetes. It is the result of damage to the tiny blood vessels that feed the retina. These tiny, damaged blood vessels leak blood and other fluids and cause swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, &/or if improperly managed, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal Detachment is a tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue. It can be caused by trauma to the eye or head, and health or other problems (such as high myopia, advanced diabetes, and inflammatory disorders of the eye). Often a retinal detachment will occur spontaneously, as a result of changes to the gel-like vitreous fluid that fills the inside of the eye. It must be treated promptly. If left untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss.
Vitreous Detachment
Vitreous Detachment results when the gel – like substance inside your eye begins to liquefy and pulls away from the retina. Many vitreal detachments result in a complete detachment from the retina without any further complication. However, in some circumstances, a detached vitreous can cause traction on the retina causing it to tear away or detach. When this occurs, it must be treated immediately.
Dry Eye
What’s in a Tear? … 3 Layers!
1. Oil/Lipid Layer: Secreted by glands in the eyelids: Meibomian & Zeis. Oil floats on water, right? Similarly, the lipid layer of your tear acts like the oil on the aqueous layer decreasing the rate of evaporation.
2. Aqueous/Watery Layer: If you guessed that this layer, secreted by the lacrimal gland, is about 99% water. The remaining percent consists of proteins, urea, inorganic salts, enzymes, & antibiotic components.
3. Mucin Layer: Excreted by the goblet cells of the conjunctiva, this layer helps bond the aqueous layer to the ocular surface evenly by providing a hydrophilic surface in which to adhere to.
Tears are multi-taskers. They provide the eye with a lubricating surface between the globe and lids, deliver oxygen to the cornea, give antibacterial protection, provide the cornea with a smooth refractive surface, trap & remove debris, & hydrate the eye surface.
Dry eyes are a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults. Dry eye occurs when there is either an insufficient amount of tears available, or the tears are of poor quality.
1. Oil/Lipid Layer: Secreted by glands in the eyelids: Meibomian & Zeis. Oil floats on water, right? Similarly, the lipid layer of your tear acts like the oil on the aqueous layer decreasing the rate of evaporation.
2. Aqueous/Watery Layer: If you guessed that this layer, secreted by the lacrimal gland, is about 99% water. The remaining percent consists of proteins, urea, inorganic salts, enzymes, & antibiotic components.
3. Mucin Layer: Excreted by the goblet cells of the conjunctiva, this layer helps bond the aqueous layer to the ocular surface evenly by providing a hydrophilic surface in which to adhere to.
Tears are multi-taskers. They provide the eye with a lubricating surface between the globe and lids, deliver oxygen to the cornea, give antibacterial protection, provide the cornea with a smooth refractive surface, trap & remove debris, & hydrate the eye surface.
Dry eyes are a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults. Dry eye occurs when there is either an insufficient amount of tears available, or the tears are of poor quality.
General Age-Related Changes Affecting the Eye
As you advance in age, your ability to judge distances & speed is slower. The time it takes you to react to stimuli in the environment is often slower. You may too, experience increased “glare”. This may be due to age related anatomical changes or cataracts. Blurry vision due to cataracts or refractive changes may occur as well as changes in your ability to perceive color. The cells in the retina also become less sensitive as a person ages.