Editor’s Note: Protect and Preserve Your Vision
Good vision is key to healthy aging. Vision is important for maintaining physical activity, independence, and staying socially connected. Vision loss or impairment that is uncorrected or untreated has been linked with a higher risk of balance problems, falls, and injuries.
As you get older, your eyes become more susceptible to disease. Common vision conditions that affect older adults are glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Glaucoma is a disease that results in vision loss due to elevated eye pressure that affects the optic nerves in the eyes. In the initial stages of glaucoma, patients often experience no noticeable symptoms, even though an eye exam can detect its presence, so getting screened is your best strategy for early detection and prevention of severe vision loss.
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people age 50 and older. AMD interferes with central vision and the ability to see colors and fine detail. Again, AMD usually progresses slowly and often goes unnoticed in the early stages, so early detection during an eye exam is key to preserving vision.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Blurred vision, trouble seeing at night. and glare are common symptoms. When cataracts interfere with the ability to perform normal activities, such as reading or driving at night, they are surgically removed and replaced with a clear lens.
To take care of your vision, be sure you see your eye doctor regularly, get screened for these conditions, have regular follow-up visits if you are diagnosed, and be vigilant for new symptoms. And, don’t despair if you have visual impairment that cannot be corrected—there are several devices that can help you compensate for low vision, as well as visual rehabilitation services available at Lighthouse clinics (www.lighthouse.org) and other organizations.
—Editor-in-Chief Orli R. Etigin
The post Editor’s Note: Protect and Preserve Your Vision appeared first on University Health News.
Read Original Article: Editor’s Note: Protect and Preserve Your Vision »
Powered by WPeMatico
