How Aging Affects Your Eyes

As we age, our eyes begin to do some things that we are not familiar with.  We may start to read from a distance, our eyes water continuously, we squint and we may even see something that floats across our vision path. These are all changes that happen with our eyes as we age. With aging, comes the risk of various eye disease, such as Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Presbyopia, and Cataracts. An annual  exam by an eye care professional can help with ways to reduce the symptoms related to aging and those diseases that effect the eyes. Eating well, such as leafy vegetables and fruits helps build good health for our body and especially our sight. Other helpful tips that help prevent age related eye disease is wearing UV rated sunglasses, exercise, and avoid smoking.

The leading cause of blindness in people

The leading cause of blindness in people over 50 is Macular Degeneration. Also called Age Related Macular Degeneration. This eye disease (according to the National Eye Institute) effects two million Americans and due to the increased aging of the US population that number is expected to more than double to over 5 and a half million by 2050. The NEI (National Eye Institute) has conducted two multi-year studies examining the effects of certain vitamins and minerals as well as powerful natural antioxidants on the disease. These studies were called AREDS and AREDS 2. The acronym AREDS stands for Age Related Eye Disease Study. The most recent was AREDS 2 which ended in May of 2013. The results of the study found that participants that were given a specific regimen of nutrients had an overall benefit than those that received placebo.

As you reach your 40’s, you may notice the difficulty of being able to focus on objects up close. This is called Presbyopia. This happens when the lens in your eye loses the ability to change its shape. In the beginning simply holding the object further away allows you to focus, but over time you will eventually need reading glasses, progressive lenses or increased eye prescription. As you continue to age Presbyopia becomes more and more advanced. More visits to the eye doctor and more prescription changes become the norm. You may need multiple pairs of glasses to complete different tasks.
Another age-related eye disease that is very common in seniors is Cataracts. They are so common with seniors that they are classified as a normal eye change due to age. Approximately half of all 65 year old Americans have some of cataracts, with an even higher percentage of Americans over 70. Technology and science have made cataract surgeries incredibly easy and safe. So effective that vision affected by cataracts are routinely restored to 100%. Studies have shown that its better to have the cataracts removed before they advanced. In some cases, the removal of cataracts can restore the vision to the point that glasses are no longer needed.

Here are a few other things that may affect your eye with aging..

Smaller Pupils
Just like our body, the muscles are affected and weakened as we get older. Our pupils are no different. The pupils are controlled by the muscles of the eye and because they are weaker the pupils cannot react to light. This keeps the pupils smaller and make us less responsive to certain types of light. When we are young, we don’t need much light to read to focus on objects, whereas someone over 60 needs three times more light to complete the same task.

Dry Eyes
As we age, there comes a depletion of tears. This can become very uncomfortable especially for women after menopause.  Dry eye sufferers experience burning, stinging and major eye discomfort. Many dry eye sufferers resort to omega 3 supplements, artificial tears and even cold compresses. Eye care professionals will prescribe medication for those who need absolute relief.

Decline of Peripheral Vision
Our peripheral vision is also affected by aging. Our field of view decreases by approximately one to three degrees per decade that we are alive. From our late 60s into our 80s you can expect up to 20 to 30 degrees of peripheral vision loss. This affects most seniors in automobile accidents because the loss of vision to one side or the other. Seniors can increase their peripheral vision by increasing the rotation of their head from side to side. This will enable a better field of vision and decrease the opportunity for an accident.

Loss of Color Vision
The retina controls and is responsible for our color vision. With age, the cells within the retina start to decline causing a lack of contrast and sharpness of colors. Some colors seem dull or faded while others are sometimes unnoticeable. There is no current treatment or therapy for age-related loss of color perception, however with cataract surgery this is sometimes improved.

Vitreous Detachment
Usually harmless, vitreous detachment is when the gel-like substance within the eye starts to liquefy and separate from the retina.  This age-related event usually causes flashes of light in the vision as well as seeing floaters or even dark spots. Unfortunately, the floaters and flashes of light can also mean the beginnings of a detached retina. This can become a major problem and lead to blindness if not treated immediately. If you experience these floaters or flashes of light in your vision, see your eye care professional immediately to determine the cause and get treated.

As we get older, we must be proactive in maintaining our sight and quality of life. If at any time you experience any changes to your normal vision, schedule a visit to your local eye care professional and get a thorough examination.  For additional information about Pro-Optic® AREDS 2 based Formula click the following link: Pro-Optic® Traditional (AREDS2 Based) Formula.