Your Aging Eyes

Your Aging Eyes

From the minute we are born, our eyes begin changing. Many people make it through their first 4 decades of life without any problems seeing. Then something dramatic happens in their 40s. They wake up one morning and cant read the newspaper because their arms are too short.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition caused by the eyes decreasing ability to focus on objects close to us. Tasks like reading small print or threading a needle become increasingly difficult. It affects everyone; some people as soon as they turn 40. Some people make it to their late 40s. Presbyopia doesnt discriminate. Everyone gets it sooner or later. There is no cure, and treatment options vary reading glasses, bifocal or multifocal glasses, taking your nearsighted glasses off to read, contact lenses, and now surgery. All treatment options have pros and cons, so it is important to discuss all options with your eye doctor.

Other normal changes occur in our eyes as we age. Our eyes take slightly longer adapting from dark to light conditions and vice versa. Colors may begin to appear faded or dull. Contrast between objects also decreases. These changes make it more difficult driving at night.

Many people also begin noticing black or semi transparent spots or strands in their vision. These are referred to as vitreal floaters and are normal changes within the clear gel inside the eye. They are actually shadows of normal debris. They are always there but only noticed while looking at a bright or light colored background like reading a book or driving down the road looking at the sky on a sunny day.

Dry Eye

Dry eye refers to eyes that do not produce enough tears or do not produce a good quality tear to properly wet and nourish the eyes. The eyes become drier more quickly as we
age. Symptoms vary, but include
a sandy, scratchy, and irritated feeling, burning and redness,a feeling that something is in the eye, excessive watering and tearing, blurred or fluctuating vision.

Make certain your eye doctor evaluates your tears. Lots of new therapies for relief are available.

The above conditions are all normal changes that affect our eyes as we age. Unfortunately, other sight threatening abnormal changes also increase significantly as we reach our fifties, sixties and above. They are cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a clouding of the clear crystalline lens inside the eye that prevents light from properly focusing. They result in everything becoming more difficult to see. When your vision becomes impaired to the point where you cannot perform your normal daily activities, surgery to remove the cataract is performed.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness and increases significantly for each decade of life. It is caused by too much fluid coming into the eye and not enough fluid exiting the eye. The increased fluid builds pressure inside of the eye that eventually causes tissue death and loss of vision. There are usually no symptoms meaning your eyes feel fine even though permanent damage is occurring. When detected, glaucoma is usually managed and controlled by using medicated eye drops.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a loss of vision to the macula, the part of the eye responsible for seeing fine detail and colors. It is extremely debilitating since it decreases your ability to read and see objects in the central portion of your vision. New therapies for macular degeneration are now available, however early detection and treatment is essential.

Lots of changes affect our eyes as we age. Make certain you receive a comprehensive eye examination at least every year to guard against these changes and preserve your eyesight. From the minute we are born, our eyes begin changing. Many people make it through their first 4 decades of life without any problems seeing. Then something dramatic happens in their 40s. They wake up one morning and cant read the newspaper because their arms are too short.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition caused by the eyes decreasing ability to focus on objects close to us. Tasks like reading small print or threading a needle become increasingly difficult. It affects everyone; some people as soon as they turn 40. Some people make it to their late 40s. Presbyopia doesnt discriminate. Everyone gets it sooner or later. There is no cure, and treatment options vary reading glasses, bifocal or multifocal glasses, taking your nearsighted glasses off to read, contact lenses, and now surgery. All treatment options have pros and cons, so it is important to discuss all options with your eye doctor.

Other normal changes occur in our eyes as we age. Our eyes take slightly longer adapting from dark to light conditions and vice versa. Colors may begin to appear faded or dull. Contrast between objects also decreases. These changes make it more difficult driving at night.

Many people also begin noticing black or semi transparent spots or strands in teir vision. These are referred to as vitreal floaters and are normal changes within the clear gel inside the eye. They are actually shadows of normal debris. They are always there but only noticed while looking at a bright or light colored background like reading a book or driving down the road looking at the sky on a sunny day.

Dry Eye

Dry eye refers to eyes that do not produce enough tears or do not produce a good quality tear to properly wet and nourish the eyes. The eyes become drier more quickly as we
age. Symptoms vary, but include
a sandy, scratchy, and irritated feeling, burning and redness,a feeling that something is in the eye, excessive watering and tearing, blurred or fluctuating vision.

Make certain your eye doctor evaluates your tears. Lots of new therapies for relief are available.

The above conditions are all normal changes that affect our eyes as we age. Unfortunately, other sight threatening abnormal changes also increase significantly as we reach our fifties, sixties and above. They are cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a clouding of the clear crystalline lens inside the eye that prevents light from properly focusing. They result in everything becoming more difficult to see. When your vision becomes impaired to the point where you cannot perform your normal daily activities, surgery to remove the cataract is performed.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness and increases significantly for each decade of life. It is caused by too much fluid coming into the eye and not enough fluid exiting the eye. The increased fluid builds pressure inside of the eye that eventually causes tissue death and loss of vision. There are usually no symptoms meaning your eyes feel fine even though permanent damage is occurring. When detected, glaucoma is usually managed and controlled by using medicated eye drops.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a loss of vision to the macula, the part of the eye responsible for seeing fine detail and colors. It is extremely debilitating since it decreases your ability to read and see objects in the central portion of your vision. New therapies for macular degeneration are now available, however early detection and treatment is essential.

Lots of changes affect our eyes as we age. Make certain you receive a comprehensive eye examination at least every year to guard against these changes and preserve your eyesight.