Have you started to hold the book, newspaper, and mobile phones farther away from your eyes? Well, you are not alone; weakening of the eyesight is one of the hundreds of changes in your body because of age. Some changes to the eyes are more serious than the others. There are many eye problems that can be avoided. Early diagnosis is one of the things that can help you avoid eye disorders related to age. Therefore, the key is to regularly visit your eye doctor so that you can spot any issue early.
How to Protect Your Eyesight at Old Age?
Have regular eye exams by an eye care professional, optometrist or ophthalmologist. People who are above 60 should visit their eye doctor every year for a dilated eye exam. During this exam, the doctor will put special drops in your eyes that will dilate your pupils, and he/she will be able to examine the eyes to the back. This exam is helpful and the only way to diagnose common eye diseases that show no early signs and symptoms.
If you wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, your prescription should be checked regularly as well. Also, make sure that you buy contact lenses from authentic brands like Dahab lenses and Solotica lenses.
You need to keep a lookout for diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes as they can cause eye disorders if not checked and treated.
Pay a visit to your eye care professional if you any of these symptoms:
- Pain in the eye
- See flashes of light.
- Double vision
- Sudden loss of sight or blurry vision
- Swelling and redness of your eye
Common Eye Problems
The eye problems listed below can be easily treated, but they can be signs of serious eye disorders.
Floaters
Floaters are specks that you can see “floating” across your vision. You must have seen them outdoors on a bright day or in a well-lit room. Floaters are normal, but if you feel you have been seeing too many of them, it can be a sign of a more serious problem like retinal tearing or detachment. If you see an increased number of floaters or flashes of light, it is time that you pay a visit to an eye care professional.
Presbyopia
It is a gradual loss of ability to see objects up close or small prints. It is a more common problem in old people. People who have presbyopia often also have strained, tired eyes and headaches. Presbyopia can usually be fixed by prescription glasses.
Watery Eyes
Your eyes can get teary for being too sensitive to wind, light, or temperature changes. It can also be due to a condition called dry eye. Putting eye drops and wearing sunglasses might solve the problem. However, having too many tears can be a sign of a serious eye problem, such as a blocked tear duct or an infection. If you are having any such problem, you should visit your eye care professional.
Eyelid Issues
Eyelid problems can be a result of certain conditions or diseases. Some of the most common eyelid problems are swollen and red eyelids, watery, itching, and crusting of eyelashes while sleeping. These problems are symptoms of a condition known as blepharitis, and they can be treated with gentle scrubbing of eyelids with warm water and cotton rolls.
Eye Diseases and Disorders
The eye conditions listed below can cause vision loss and blindness. These disorders may have few or no early symptoms. Having your eyes examined regularly is the best chance to avoid these conditions. If these conditions are diagnosed earlier, there are better chances that you will be able to keep your eyesight if you follow your eye care professional’s guidelines.
Corneal Diseases and Conditions
Corneal diseases can result in watery eyes, redness, problems with vision, pain, or a halo effect of the vision. Injury or infection can damage the cornea. Treating these conditions can be as simple as changing your glasses prescription or as complex as surgery.
Cataracts
These are cloudy areas in the lenses of the eyes that cause blurry or hazy vision. Sometimes, cataracts remain small and don’t affect your sight, but others grow bigger and hinder your vision. Just make sure that you buy authentic contact lenses like Solotica from here. Cataracts can be treated with cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a safe and common treatment that can restore your good vision. If you have a cataract, your eye doctor will examine and watch for changes over time to determine if surgery will benefit you.
Glaucoma
It is caused by too much pressure because of the fluid inside the eye. If it is not treated on time, it can lead to blindness. People with glaucoma do not experience any early signs of pain. You can be saved from glaucoma by going to the doctor for dilated eye exams every year. Treatments of glaucoma include prescription eye drops, surgery, or lasers.
Dry Eyes
This condition results when tear glands stop working. Ironically, your eyes will start to get teary, and you may feel a burning or stinging sensation in the eye. Dry is more common in women and older people. It can be treated with simple measures like using a home humidifier or putting eye drops.
Retinal Disorders
Retinal disorders are the most common causes of blindness. Following are the disorders that can affect ageing eyes.
- Diabetic Retinopathy: this usually occurs in people with diabetes. It does not show early signs, and it develops slowly. Make sure that you have a yearly dilated eye exam if you have diabetes. You can prevent diabetic retinopathy by keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in check.
- Macular Degeneration: it harms the sharp, central vision that is needed to see things clearly. It hampers in reading and driving. Your eye care professional will also be able to look for signs of macular degeneration during dilated eye exams.
Retinal Detachment: This is a serious case and needs instant and extensive medical care. It happens when the retina detaches itself from the back of the eye. Seeing more floaters, seeing light flashes, and the weird sensation of blockage in the eye can be its symptoms. It is the time when you rush to your eye care professional at once
