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What is a Ageing Vision?
While many older people maintain good eyesight well
into their 80s and beyond, others may have their vision affected by some type of
visual impairment. As part of the normal aging process some changes occur that
can weaken your eyes.
Common eye complaints:
- Presbyopia - the normal loss of ability to see
close objects or small print with age
- Floaters - tiny spots or cobweb like specks
float across the field of vision
- Tearing - excess tears, caused by an increased
sensitivity to light, wind or temperature changes
- Dry eyes - the tear glands do not
make enough tears or make poor quality tears
Common eye diseases and disorders among oldr adults:
Cataracts are the clouding of lens lens in the
eye, which can block light from easily passing through the lens. As Cataracts
advance they usually cause a decrease in eyesight. Today surgery can easily
remove cataracts.
Glaucoma: results from an increase in pressure
inside the eye, leading gradually to vision loss and eventually blindness.
Treatment for glaucoma include prescription eye drops, oral medications or
surgery.
Retinal disorders include age-related macular degeneration diabetic
retinopathy and retinal detachment.
Some other common eye conditions that may affect older people include conjunctivitis,
corneal diseases, eyelid problems and temporal arteritis.
What can you do to prevent and treat eye problems?
- Have regular eye examinations to check for diseases that could cause eye problems if
not treated.
- Annual examinations may be required if you have diabetes or a family history of eye
disease.
- See us at once if you have any loss of eyesight, eye pain, fluids or discharge coming
from the eye, double vision, redness or swelling of your eye or
eyelid.
- Brighter lights at home may help you see better and
prevent accidents caused by poorer eyesight.
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