eye health
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vision loss is an inevitability as we get older. here’s what to expect by brianna snyder
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oss of vision, like graying hair and menopause, is just one of the inevitable parts of aging. Starting in our late 30s and early 40s, many of us begin to have a harder time reading small print and genetic diseases, such as glaucoma, start to show up. “The need for reading glasses usually starts in the 40s,” says Dr. David Kwiat of Kwiat Eye and Laser Surgery in Amsterdam. “What happens is the eye changes and loses its natural ability to see up close.” Doctors treat a handful of common afflictions found in patients who are starting to get a little older. Those afflictions include glaucoma, dry-eye syndrome, cataracts and presbyopia, among others. Here’s a rundown of what you should be on the lookout for in your own eyes:
According to a 2011 report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), nearly 22 million Americans age 40 or older are affected by cataracts. And nearly half of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts. Cataracts are little clumps of protein that develop in the lens of the eye. They can begin to develop well before they start to have a major impact on your vision, but it’s uncommon to have major vision loss from cataracts until your 60s and 70s, according to the American Optometric Association. The biggest risk factor for cataracts is old age, but researchers have found that lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc reduce the risk of certain eye diseases, including cataracts, the AOA reports. (And there are surgical procedures -- that are pretty common -- to remove them.) Dry-Eye Syndrome
This syndrome occurs when your tear ducts begin to slow production of moisture in your eyes. The result can be burning, stinging and general discomfort. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision, according to the American
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Cataracts