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Four common eye diseases pose the greatest threats to vision after age 40: cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. This report will help you determine your risk of developing these disorders, describe their symptoms, and discuss diagnosis and treatment. You'll also learn to recognize and address other common eye problems, including presbyopia, dry eye, floaters and flashes, retinal detachment, and eyelid problems such as drooping upper or lower lids.
Prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications in consultation with Laura C. Fine, M.D., Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, and Jeffrey S. Heier, M.D., Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School. 48 pages. (2007)
Like the rest of your body, your eyes naturally change throughout your life. These changes occur gradually and become apparent in later years, as the structures in and around your eyes become less efficient. For most people, the first sign of change is presbyopia, deterioration of close-up vision. Luckily, this problem can be treated with reading glasses or bifocals.
However, more serious age-related eye problems can cause vision loss or visual distortion that glasses can’t fix. Almost 1 million Americans older than 40 are considered legally blind, and another 2.4 million have significantly reduced vision. The risk of developing vision problems increases as you get older, especially after age 65. One dramatic example: People age 80 or older make up about 8% of the U.S. population, but account for 69% of people who are blind.
It is possible to prevent many age-related eye problems. In this report, you’ll read about why you should have regular eye exams, especially if you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma; how to recognize the risk factors and symptoms of specific eye diseases; and what steps you can take to prevent or treat them before your vision deteriorates further. For example, if you have diabetes, it’s important to keep your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels under control to avoid losing your vision to diabetic retinopathy. Or if you have early signs of age-related macular degeneration, talk with your doctor about whether to take vitamin and zinc supplements. This report also provides specific information about what you can do to protect your eyes—and your vision.
