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What you need to know about aging eyes: May is Healthy Vision Month

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In the United States, the leading causes of blindness are age-related. If you’re over age 60, you’re at risk for a whole host of eye diseases, and yet recent surveys show less than half of individuals receive regular eye exams. If you think your eyes don’t need ongoing care, you may be taking risks with your sight. Age-related eye conditions develop slowly, and patients often don’t notice the signs until it’s too late. This May Healthy Vision Month, take the time to review some of the common age-related eye conditions and options to preserve your vision.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, and they can begin to develop in your 40s and 50s. Cataracts develop slowly and painlessly over time — in fact, in the early stages, symptoms may be so mild that you don’t even realize your vision is changing. But as a person ages, cataracts grow to the point where they can get in the way of living an active, independent life.

As cataracts become more dense, you may begin to notice symptoms such as a painless blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, poor night vision and a fading or yellowing of colors. In the long run, cataract surgery may be your best option to restore sight. The latest technology is laser cataract surgery, which uses a precise form of energy to remove the cataract. This results in a gentler procedure with effective results.

Glaucoma

An estimated 50 percent of glaucoma patients don’t realize they have this common eye disease. When left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness — and by the time patients realize, it’s too late to save vision. That’s why early detection and diagnosis are crucial for effective treatment.

Some patients may be treated with the use of eye drops, but some need laser treatment or various incisional eye surgeries. For these patients, a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty can be used as a safe and effective treatment. Among the available treatments for glaucoma are the trabulectomy and tube shunts. 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration occurs when the center of the retina begins to deteriorate. Two different versions of the disease exist: the generally less severe, “dry” macular degeneration, and wet macular degeneration. As fluid leaks into the retina, the disease will evolve into “wet” macular degeneration, resulting in more rapid and severe damage.

People over the age of 60 are typically the most vulnerable to the disease. Symptoms include blurred or distorted vision, blind spots, reduced central vision and difficulty adapting to low light levels. If untreated, this condition can lead to blindness.

Since age is a critical factor in macular degeneration, you should take extra precaution as you get older to preserve your eye health. Many treatments are available that can help relieve symptoms and stall its progression, if the condition is caught soon enough. These include ocular injections that inhibit new blood vessels or special eye vitamins.

How to Prevent Vision Loss and Care for Your Eyes

The most important step to take is to see your eye doctor for regular screenings, because prevention and treatment of eye conditions starts with a single eye exam. Many eye diseases have minimal symptoms or none at all, until the disease has progressed. That makes early detection critical.

Your sight makes a huge difference in your quality of life. It’s important to take care of it. At Florida Eye Specialists, we recommend that patients ages 60 and older have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Why take any chances with your vision? If you have questions or are due for your exam, call our Ponte Vedra Beach office at (904) 564-2020.

Dr. McGregor N. Lott, M.D., is an ophthalmologist at Florida Eye Specialists. For more information on Dr. Lott or to schedule a virtual appointment, visit FloridaEyeSpecialists.com.