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People often say that once you hit 40, you begin
noticing dramatic changes in your eyesight. The truth is that some
people begin noticing them earlier or later in life however. As you age,
your eyesight does as well. Just like any other part of your body, your
eyesight will change over time. Your bones get weaker, muscles lose
tone, your heart is not as strong, and your eyesight changes. These are
all natural progressions that come with getting older.
Although they are
not always welcomed and can be quite alarming and annoying, the fact is
they occur no matter what some people do to prevent them. Our eyesight
is precious and more sensitive than some people realize. You should do
everything you can to take care of it, as certain age related eye
conditions can take your eyesight away.
A)
Prevention
The main focus on age related eye conditions is
prevention. While most of the common conditions cannot truly be
prevented, patients can do what they can to protect their eyes. You
should always wear sunglasses with UV protection when you are out in the
elements. Sun damage is something that takes a while to show up, but
after many years of being exposed can wreck havoc on your eyesight. Be
sure to always wear the proper eyewear when you are out. If you must
wear prescription glasses, be sure to also purchase a pair of
prescription sunglasses in order to get the protection you need. Some
regular lenses on your normal eyeglasses will offer UV protection as
well.
Another preventative measure you can take with your eyes is
making regular appointments to see the eye doctor. You should see your
eye doctor at least every two years after the age of 40. If you have an
eye condition or already wear a prescription before the age of 40, you
should see your doctor annually or biannually as well. Once you hit the
age of 60 however, you should make it a point to visit your eye care
professional each year.
B) Conditions
The most common eye
condition related to age is presbyopia. This condition is one that many
people over the age of 40 will experience this. It is basically a
problem people have with reading close to their face. You may find that
holding a newspaper away from your face makes it easier to read. You may
have trouble reading menus or music at church. This is a condition that
cannot be treated, and often gets worse over time. You can use reading
glasses however to help you deal with this issue. You can get a
prescription from your eye doctor or you can find over the counter
reading glasses at your local pharmacy.
Mucular degeneration is
one thing that is commonly linked to aging. This disease which can lead
to vision loss though mostly occur in people over the age of 60, young
people suffering from it is also not unlikely. This disease results from
the damage of the central vision. This disease makes it very hard to
read and drive as you can not look straight.While experts are almost
certain old wives tales like watching too much television or reading in
a dimmed area are not damaging to your eyes, there is little explanation
for some age related eye conditions other than the fact they are due to
aging. Remember to visit your local eye care professional as you should
so you can learn to control any age related conditions you may be
developing.
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