
Although eye problems can crop up any time, as we age we are more prone to some eye disorders. To know which are some of the age-related eye problems that you need to guard yourself against, read this article.
Eye problems especially vision related problems and eye infections might crop up at any time. However there are some specific eye problems that are seen in mature adults. As we age, the muscles of the eye become weaker and less flexible and the focusing ability of the eye lens declines. This results in blurry vision and the inability to see near objects properly.
This is known as presbyopia and is one of the major eye problems, as far as vision is concerned, that older people suffer from. But presbyopia is not just the only age-related eye problems that older people might suffer from. There are other eye problems that older adults are more likely to suffer from. Being aware of these eye problems and undergoing regular checkup will help you to detect such problems at an early stage.
Eye Problems Related to Age
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
One of the major eye problems related to age is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and is one of the primary cause of vision impairment in older adults. Some of the symptoms of AMD include blurred vision, distorted vision, seeing blurry lines, seeing dark spots and photosensitivity.
When a person develops AMD, the cone cells that are present in the macula of the eye becomes damaged which leads to loss of central vision. Peripheral vision is not compromised in AMD and a person can see objects but is unable to make out the details. If you notice any of the symptoms of age related macular degeneration, it is best to consult your ophthalmologist immediately.
Glaucoma
One of the most widespread eye disorder is glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs due to damage of the optic nerves because of high eye pressure inside the eye. Unusually high eye pressure damages the optic nerves and the optic disks. If left untreated it can lead to blindness.
Glaucoma generally does not have any symptoms and loss of vision is gradual which many people ignore as normal vision problem. Because of thinner corneal thickness of the eyes in older people, they are at a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Early detection of glaucoma can help in arresting this condition and treatment often consist of laser therapy or surgery.
Cataract
Perhaps one of the most well-known eye diseases, cataract can be defined as clouding of vision which might lead to complete vision loss. The lens of the eyes are made up with protein and water. As a person ages, the protein tend clump together and it may cloud a small area in the lens. This clouding leads to partial vision impairment and if not checked it may lead to blindness. When the clouding is in a small area of the eye lens, normal vision is not impaired. However, if you notice symptoms of blurring vision, it is best to consult your ophthalmologist immediately.
Eye Floaters
Tiny specks that are seen in the field of vision are known as eye floaters and it is a lesser known type of age-related eye problems. As we all know the inside of the eyeball is filled with a jelly like substance that is called the vitreous humor. The constitution of vitreous humor can change as a person ages. This leads to clumping of the microscopic fibers within the vitreous humor. These clumps floats in the vitreous humor tend to cast shadows on the retina and a person will see spots in front of his eyes.
Some other age-related eye problems are dry eyes, diabetic retinopathy, hypermetropia, retinal detachment and tearing. It is inevitable that your vision will change as you age. A good way to protect your vision is to go for eye checkups regularly so that any eye problems can be detected as early as possible.