5 Age-Related Eye Problems to Watch for as You Get Older

As we get older, our eyes are usually one of the first things to deteriorate. As a result, we may experience visual disturbances. Even if you’re an active, healthy senior, there are quite a few eye diseases that we need to look out for.

Dry Eye Syndrome

One common issue to look out for is dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a condition where the surface of the eyes lack necessary moisture. The symptoms of dry eye syndrome include soreness, blurry vision, a burning feeling in the eyes, and watery eyes. There are plenty of ways to help treat this condition such as changing your diet, using eye drops and scheduling an appointment with an optometrist.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a bit of an odd condition. It actually is not only one condition, but is a term used to describe multiple conditions with the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the part that sends information and signals to your brain. There are two types of glaucoma; open-angle and narrow-angle. Open-angle glaucoma usually doesn’t have any symptoms and there’s little to no vision impairment. However, most cases of glaucoma has people experience a large amount of pressure in their eyes that can lead to a loss in peripheral vision. You’ll need to have an ophthalmologist perform a comprehensive dilated exam to determine the severity of this condition.

Cataracts

When your eyes are healthy, the lens is very flexible and clear. However, as we get older, the eye lens can start to lose their flexibility and develop a cloudy effect that impedes vision. This is a condition known as cataracts. Some of the early symptoms of cataracts is cloudy, blurry vision, having difficulty seeing at night and colors aren’t as vibrant as they once were. One way to treat cataracts is using sustained-release cataract surgery steroids. Specifically, this medication is used after cataract extraction.

Impaired Vision

The most common eye condition as we get older is impaired vision. As simple as it sounds, it’s quite detrimental to our health. Having poor vision is not only dangerous, it can make doing our daily tasks much more difficult. Wearing glasses or contact lenses can help, however, they cannot get rid of the symptoms of impaired vision. That’s why important to follow up with your family physician or optometrist regularly.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy, also called diabetic eye disease, is a condition caused by damaged blood vessels in the eye’s retina. This is a condition that’s often experienced by people who are diabetic. If this condition is left untreated, it can cause a permanent loss in vision.

The natural aging process is something we all go through. Regardless of your age, you need to take steps to preserve your eyesight. If you suspect you have one of these eye conditions, see a doctor immediately for an optical exam.