When we get older our bodies age and some age-

related eye problems will appear.But we don’t have

to live with age-related vision loss.

COMMON AGE -RELATED EYE PROBLEMS

1.Presbyopia

After the age  of 40 ,many people will experience

difficulty in focusing on near objects .

This is due to hardening of the lens inside the eyes.

At the beginning, you can compensate the loss of

focusing ability by holding the reading material

farther away from the eyes.

Later you will need correctives glasses.

Some corrective eye surgery options are available ,

such as Monovision Lasik, Conductive keratoplasty. 

2.Dry eye syndrome

Causes:

• heavy digital devices use

• dry environment

• prolonged contact lens wear

• post Lasik surgery

• side effects of medications such as diuretics ,allergy drugs, beta-blockers ,antihistamines

• a diet poor in omega 3 fatty acids

• health conditions – diabetes,lupus ,arthritis

• deficiency of the tear producing glands

Symptoms:

• blurry vision

A blurry photo of a bridge in a forest

• sensitive to light

• irritation to windy condition

• having problem in wearing contact lenses

• scratchy and gritty feeling

• red eyes

Treatment

• check your medications with your doctor

• increase omega 3 fatty acids intake by eating oily
  fishes such as salmon and sardines

• stay hydrated

• don’t wear contact lens for prolonged periods  and keep them clean

• blink your eyes more often

• When using the computer take breaks.Look  away from the screen every 20 minutes   at  something which is at least 20 feet away

• the  use of artificial tears , lubricating  eye drops ,
  prescribed steroid eye drops

• Wear  sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays.

3.Cataract

An illustration of the anatomy of an eye

If the lens is not clear the result will be a cloudy image.

In severe cases will lead to blindness.

The lens will become cloudy due to the following reasons.

• aging

• medical conditions– diabetes,high blood pressure,obesity

•  trauma or past eye surgery

• Long-term use of steroid medications

• excessive alcohol drinking

• excessive exposure to sunlight

• exposure to ionizing radiation such as X-rays and cancer radiation therapy

• familial history of cataract

• smoking

• previous history of cataract

• smoking

Signs and symptoms:

• blurred or dim vision

• increasing difficulty with vision at night

• sensitive to light and glare

• seeing “halos” around lights

• fading or yellowing of colors in the vision field

Lifestyle change before surgery:

• use accurate prescription eyeglasses or contact lens

• Ensure enough lighting at home

• When going outside during the day wear
  sunglasses or a wide -brimmed hat to
  reduce glare

• limit night driving

Treatment

– Eye surgery to remove the clouded lens and

replaced with an artificial lens (intraocular lens)

4.Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which the increased

intraocular pressure causes damage to the optic nerve.

The vision loss will deteriorate until tunnel vision develops .

In the end  ,will result in blindness.

The 2 common types of glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma gradually reduces

your peripheral vision without other symptoms.

By the time you notice it, the permanent damage

already has occurred.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma. produces sudden

symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, halos

around lights,dilated pupils,nausea and vomiting and

vision loss

Causes:

• inefficient drainage of aqueous humor causes

the  increase of intraocular pressure

• The increased intraocular pressure cause

damage to the  optic nerve

Treatment

• measurement of the intraocular pressure

• visual field testing
• 
  glaucoma tunnel vision

• eye drops or medications to reduce the
  intraocular   pressure

• laser eye surgery if the condition is not controlled

5.Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is a condition of  abnormal

growth of new blood vessels  within the retina.

These  small  blood vessels may leak or break.

The new blood vessels may bleed into the vitreous humor

This bleeding and new growth can cause scarring

or a retinal detachment which will lead to vision loss.

Signs and symptoms

• may be symptomless 

• Blurred vision

• floaters

• loss of vision

• blindness

Diagnosis 

• dilated-pupil fundus examination

• Fluorescein angiography

image of  diabetic retinopathy

Prevention Tips

• keep blood sugar level within normal limits

• maintain good control of blood pressure

• eat a healthy diet

• regular exercise

• don’t smoke

• have a regular eye examination

Treatment

• Steroid eye drops or intraocular steroid injection

• Laser treatment to  seal leaking blood vessels
  and  eliminate abnormal blood  vessels
• vitrectomy to remove hemorrhage in  the  vitreous humor

• anti-vascular  endothelial growth  factor
  medication injection

• The medication reduces the swelling, leakage,and  growth of unwanted blood vessel in the  retina

6.Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is deterioration of the macula.

The health of the macula determines our ability to

see fine details.

Prevention

• eat a healthy diet

• regular  exercise

• use  of  sunglasses to protect your eyes from  harmful  UV  rays

• nutritional supplements containing antioxidant ,multivitamins that   also contain lutein and zeaxanthin
  
  
• maintain a normal body weight

• maintain a normal blood pressure

• avoid smoking

Diagnosis

• viewing a chart of black lines arranged in a graph  pattern(Amsler grid)

• retinal examination

• Fluorescein angiography

Treatment

• Photodynamic laser therapy.The doctor injects  the medication into the bloodstream  and
  absorbed by  the abnormal blood vessels in the eye.

• Then a cold laser is introduced into the eye to  activate the drug , damaging  the  abnormal  blood vessels.

• eating a diet high in omega 3

• taking supplements containing lutein and zeaxanthin

7.Floaters

-Floaters are blurry spots or specks in your vision that move.

-They are debris in the eye’s vitreous gel.

-They don’t block vision and are easier to see in bright light.

-Floaters are common and usually harmless.

-But if they appear or increase suddenly, or you also

have light flashes consult  a doctor.

-Persistent white or black spots and a sudden

shadow or loss of peripheral vision need immediate

medical attention.

-These could mean a posterior vitreous detachment

or  a retinal detachment

Treatment 

• Laser vitreolysis