Tag: glaucoma

Our Eyes Change As We Age

Posted on by glacialedits

As we age, we go through a few changes as adults, from our hair turning gray to changes in our eyesight. One of our priorities is making sure our patients are empowered with information to know what to expect to minimize eye health risks.

 What Are The Common Age-Related Vision Changes? 

  • Increased sensitivity to glare – this can be an issue when driving.
  • Difficulty reading and doing things close-up – this is called presbyopia, when the lenses become less flexible, making it hard to complete activities such as reading a menu.
  • Brighter lighting is needed to see – As we age, we often need more light to see, work and read.
  • Small changes in color perception – The eye lens can be slightly distorted and discolored, allowing muted colors. These changes may also be a sign of cataracts, a clouding of the eye. According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of all 65-year-old Americans have some degree of cataract formation in their eyes.

 What Are Some Major Age-Related Eye Diseases? 

  • Macular Degeneration (AMD) – More than two million Americans currently have age-related macular degeneration, which is expected to double by 2050 due to the aging population.
  • Glaucoma – The risk of glaucoma increases each decade after the age of 40 from 1 percent to 12 percent in your 80s.

Listed below are a few symptoms that could be the early warning signs of a serious eye health problem as we age.

  • Seeing distorted images – Straight lines that appear distorted or wavy or an empty area in the center of your vision could be signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The disease affects the macula, which is the part of your retina that is responsible for central vision. The condition causes a blind spot in the middle of your field of vision.
  • Fluctuating vision – Frequent changes in how clearly you can see may be a sign of diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure). These chronic conditions can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. This vision loss can sometimes be permanent.
  • Seeing floaters and flashes – Seeing spots or floaters in your eyes of shadowy images of particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Although they can be bothersome, spots and floaters typically don’t harm vision and is a natural part of the eye’s aging process. If you suddenly see more floaters than usual, along with bright, flashing lights, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately to prevent.
  • Loss of side vision – Losing peripheral or side vision may be a sign of glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged and no longer transmits all visual images to the brain. It often has no symptoms until damage to your vision has begun.

Regular eye examinations, early diagnosis, and treatment of eye diseases can help you preserve good eye health throughout your life. Many eye conditions can have the option of treatment or are delayed with early detection; annual eye exams can assist in proactive detection.

How To Promote Healthy Vision? 

One significant component of promoting positive eye health is to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthily, stay active, and don’t smoke. Keep in mind to protect your eyes from the UV rays by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses when outdoors on a sunny or cloudy day. Also, take breaks from the computer screen, especially if you spend most of your work hours at a computer screen, resulting in digital eye strain. Remember to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Your eyes will love you for it!

Your Healthy Eyes Is Our Priority! 

If it has been a while since we have seen you, call us TODAY to schedule an appointment to make your eye health a priority.

The Eye Center of of North Florida

References: American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Optometric Association

The content is researched and vetted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association. This blog provides information and discussion about eye health and related subjects. The content provided on this blog and any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered medical advice. If the reader or any person has a medical concern, they should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.

WOMEN’S EYE HEALTH

Posted on by glacialedits

March is Women’s History Month, celebrating women’s contributions to history, society, medicine, and culture. There have been groundbreaking contributions from women within eye healthcare as well.

Did you know that women are at greater risk for eye disease and visual impairments? According to the Women’s Eye Health Organization, women account for more than two-thirds of the world’s blind and visually impaired population, which is the main reason the Women’s Eye Health Organization was established in 2001 in response to this troubling reality.

We strive to educate women and our patient family to empower patients to make healthy lifestyle changes to improve their eye health.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, studies show a gender gap in eye diseases. Women are more likely than men to suffer from sight-threatening conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma. Women make up 65 percent of AMD cases, 61 percent of glaucoma and cataract patients are women, and 66 percent of blind patients are women. Why the gender gap? There are a few theories. On average, women live longer, and many eye problems are age-related.

Unique Vision Problems Women Need To Closely Watch

  • Dry Eyes – Occurs double the rate in postmenopausal women
  • Autoimmune Diseases – Women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men, many of which affect vision, such as lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome and hyperthyroiditis
  • Pregnancy – vision changes due to the hormones pregnant women experience

Women, It Is Now Time To Take Care Of Yourself!

Women often make the majority of their family’s health care decisions. In addition to being responsible for their own health, women are often responsible as caregivers for the health care choices of their children, partners, spouse, and aging parents. We encourage all women to carve out some time for themselves today and take care of themselves so that they can continue to be that shining star for their loved ones. Call TODAY to schedule your appointment for an eye exam! In the meantime, here are a few simple steps in taking care of you and improving your eye health:

  • Eat healthy foods. A diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, benefits the entire body, including the eyes. Eye-healthy food choices include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, and cold-water fish.
  • Drop the smoking habit. Smoking increases the risk for eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Protect Your Eyes. Always wear sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection and a hat while enjoying time outdoors.
  • Know Your Family History. If you have a close relative with macular degeneration, you have a 50 percent chance of developing this condition. A family history of glaucoma increases your glaucoma risk by four to nine times.
  • Use Cosmetics Safely. Throw away eye makeup after three months and get new products. Infection-causing bacteria grow quickly in creamy or liquid eye makeup.

We encourage women as well as men to get regular eye exams. Making eye health a top priority today can help protect your eye health as you age.

References: Women’s Eye Health Organization, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Optometric Association