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A look at life after 50

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A look at life after 50

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COVER STORY n HEALTH & FITNESS

A walker works out on a curved treadmill at Westwood’s Fitness and Sports Center. Westwood manager Kel Bond said that for some people, a trip to the gym is about more than just exercise; it’s about enjoying time with friends and peers.

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Exercise your options Whether you stay on equipment at the gym or stay at home, just stay in shape CODY CUTTER

Sauk Valley Media It’s time to go to the gym, or is it?

Among the many lifestyle changes that the coronavirus pandemic brought on nearly a year ago, getting to the gym has been an issue for seniors who want to work out and stay in shape.

While the coronavirus has been the go-to reason for not going to the gym, replacing those pre-pandemic excuses of “I’m too busy” or “Maybe I’ll go tomorrow,”there’s no excuse for not tak-

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ing care of yourself, even during a pandemic – especially during a pandemic.

Whether you do it at home or do it in a gym, the key is to keep working out. That way, if you do get sick, your body will be in better shape, giving you the ammunition you need to combat the illness.

Getting into a healthy routine at home is one way to stay in shape, but some people still prefer heading to they gym.

EXERCISE cont’d on page 5

EXERCISE cont’d from page 4 Gyms are staffed with people who can give guidance on the best workout. Another benefit is the camaraderie seniors can experience while working out with their peers, said Kel Bond, manager of the Westwood Sports Complex in Sterling.

“The gym is looked at as being a social place for this demographic, and for anyone who is not constricted on time,” Bond said. “You’ll see a couple of crowds that have a lot of fun: the youth that aren’t constricted because they’re not trying to work with sports, or the retired crowd that has that opportunity to spend a lot of time here to make it become a social place.”

Westwood’s Fitness and Sports Center has seen about a 40% decrease in senior pass usage since the start of the pandemic. Nick Pepper, owner of 7:24 Fitness on the Rock in Rock Falls, also has seen a decline in senior visits to his gym. About half of his senior members have come back, and the other half are still nervous about returning.

Even the ones who have come back are still cautious, Pepper said, coming at times when the gym is less busy.

EXERCISE cont’d on page 6

Nick Pepper, owner of 7:24 Fitness on the Rock in Rock Falls, encourages seniors to stay in shape, whether they do it in his gym or at home. “As we get older we start to lose muscle mass, and if we are sedentary we lose it even quicker. So even doing things like walking up and down stairs, or doing push-ups on a wall can be beneficial.”

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EXERCISE cont’d from page 5 “Due to the older population being at a higher risk, I don’t blame them for being cautious,” he said. “But at the same time, exercise and healthy eating is proven to help strengthen immune systems and fight off diseases. For some of our members they have told me that they plan to come back once they get the [COVID-19] vaccine, while others plan to come back once the numbers in our area are back down.”

If the idea of working out at a gym still makes you sweat a little, there are ways to work out at home.

Both Bond and Pepper encourage seniors to get up and move to stay fit and active – but sometimes sitting down helps, too. Chair squats – the motion of sitting down and getting up – are a great starting exercise; all it takes is a chair.

From there, simply pacing around the house and finding creative things to do leads to more movement and body flow.

Coming up with a specific routine can be tricky, Bond said, without meeting someone in person. “With people having various levels of fitness and needs it is always complicated to suggest movements or groups of movements that should be done,” he said – but he did offer one tip: Healthiness is next to cleanliness.

Winter months are perfect for extra cleaning inside the house, Bond said. Dusting ceiling fans and cleaning hard-to-reach crevices throughout the house are perfect

Helpful health hints See the tips on pages 7-9 for tips on working out at home, easing back into exercise, and more. cold weather chores.

“A good way to increase physical activity in the winter is to increase the frequency that chores around the house are done. While sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming are not viewed as being exercise, they are definitely physical activity.

And if you’re really feeling ambitious, try rearranging the furniture. A new look around the house can boost your spirits, too.

“To avoid being complicated and complex, without knowing what a person’s prior exercise history is, my best advice is to always say increase the activities of daily living during these months.”

When the weather does get nicer outside, activities such as walking and starting a garden offer plenty of health benefits. Gardening, Bond said, is tremendous because of the various demands of the task.

“There are also underlying benefits to it, like increased bone density; the slight resistance you get from pushing a shovel into dirt is a good thing for the bones, within reason,” he said.

“Motion is lotion” is a popular workout phrase that Pepper sometimes tells his older clients: Being active and moving around often is much better than being idle.

Hear What You’ve Been Missing!

“If they feel safer at home for now, it is still important for them to try to get their exercise,” Pepper said. “As we get older we start to lose muscle mass, and if we are sedentary we lose it even quicker. So even doing things like walking up and down stairs, or doing push-ups on a wall can be beneficial to maintain muscle.”

Meanwhile, back at the gyms, staff members are getting a but of a workout themselves: Spray. Wipe. Spray. Wipe … and repeat.

To prevent further spread of the coronavirus, fitness facilities are pumping up efforts to clean treadmills, benches, weights – just about anything and everything in their gym that customers might come in contact with.

While doctors say the virus isn’t transmitted by sweat, it could become a carrier if it gets mixed in with other body fluids – an errant sneeze, a runny nose – and there are plenty of high-contact surfaces in a gym where the virus could hang out, sometimes up to several days.

Most gyms require users to wipe down their machine when they’re finished working out, and they keep paper towels, sanitizers and antibacterial wipes nearby.

It’s a point of emphasis that Pepper drives home to every new member. Since the start of the pandemic, his staff has made it an “extra priority” to ensure better sanitation.

“People like myself in the fitness world are happy to see people working out,” Bond said. “Exercise is important no matter where it is done.”

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A pretty smart idea for some dumbbells Milk plastic containers for all their worth: Use them to stay in shape Finished with that gallon of milk? Polished off that bottle of orange juice? Hold on to it for a bit. Don’t toss the containers in the recycle bin just yet. Refill them.

Plastics are often maligned in the environmental world as taking a lifetime and beyond to decompose, but they can have a second life, and one that can help give you a lift when you need it. Plastic containers can serve as substitute for dumbbells or barbells if getting to the gym isn’t an option right now.

The coronavirus pandemic has made some seniors reluctant about hitting the gym. But for those who want to work out Water can without going out, just recycle some plastic. fill up any Need a weight? Fill ‘em up. empty A 1-gallon milk jug can be transformed into an 8.34-pound dumbbell when you fill container for it with water. A half-gallon jug is 4.17 pounds. repurposing Want to up your game? A gallon of sand equals 12.76 pounds, soil 12 pounds, and as a weight. To small rocks about 20 pounds. figure out how The jugs’ handles make them perfect for curling and simple range-of-motion exercises. much a container With a little more effort you can turn those jugs into barbells – why pump iron when you can weighs, convert fluid pump sand? ounces to pounds. This Secure two gallon jugs to a meter-long (about 3 1/4 feet) rod and you’ve got a makeshift milk jug orange juice bottle can barbell for working out your arms and doing leg lifts. hold 52 fluid ounces, With plenty of plastics in our homes, there are others ways to work out, too. which equates to 1.5 Smaller containers can be bundled to create weights. A 20-ounce bottle of water weighs 1.304 liters; and with 1 liter pounds, three of them are just shy of 4 pounds, and four of them weigh just over 5 pounds. Plastic equaling 2.2 pounds, bags can hold up to about 15 pounds – it’s best to double-bag if using them for this purpose. this container weighs – Cody Cutter/Sauk Valley Media 3.3 pounds when filled.

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Staying healthy at home Is the weight of the coronavirus pandemic too much to handle when it comes to going to the gym? It’s alright to stay at home, as long as you still have ways to keep yourself fit and active.

Nick Pepper (left), owner of 7:24 Fitness on the Rock in Rock Falls, suggests a six-part home-based workout that can be done three times a day with various items throughout the house; it can be done every day or every other day: CHAIR SQUATS: Sit down on a chair and stand back up again. Do 10 times, or “repetitions” (reps).

PUSH-UPS: Lay flat on the floor, stomach side down, and use your arms and feet to push up. This also can be done with either arms or feet on an elevated surface. Do 10 reps.

GLUTE BRIDGES: Lay on your back on the floor, with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Lift hips from the ground until knees, hips and shoulders form a straight line. The body should look like a right triangle when the hips are lifted. Do 10 reps.

BENT-OVER ROW: Bend over forward with feet flat, reach down and lift items of weight up to your chest (need some makeshift weights? See the “Pretty smart idea for dumbbells” article on page 7) . Do 10 reps.

PLANKS: Lie facedown with legs extended and elbows bent and directly under shoulders; palms flat on the floor. Place feet hip-width apart, and elbows shoulder-width apart. Engage your abs, then tuck your toes to lift your body (forearms remain on the ground; press the floor away from you with forearms). You should form straight line from shoulders to heels. Hold for 30 seconds.

SIDE PLANK: Just like regular planks, but with one side of the body facing toward the floor and the other facing up. Lay on one hip with the hand on that side bracing your torso up as you lift it. Do 30 seconds for each side.

Planks can also be done elevated.

If 10 reps is too easy, increase the reps by five. The more reps that are added, the more a cardiovascular aspect will apply to the workout.

It’s hip to work out Keep your hips happy, and yourself out of the hospital, with some simple exercises Metro News Service Surgery is not an inevitable side effect of aging. In fact, men and women over 50 can employ various preventive techniques to strengthen their bones and joints in the hopes of avoiding a visit to the hospital.

According to AARP, more than 370,000 men and women undergo hip replacement surgeries in the United States each year.

Some may think such surgeries are a final solution to their hip pain, but that might not be the case, as AARP notes than one in 10 hip replacement recipients will need a second procedure for any number of reasons, including infection or mechanical failure.

A proactive approach that focuses on strengthening and protecting the hips can help aging men and women reduce their risk of one day needing hip replacement surgery. The following are a handful of exercises, courtesy of the AARP, that can help men and women strengthen their hips.

GOOD MORNING Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your hands at your sides. With your knees slightly bent and your back naturally arched, bend at your hips as if you’re bowing out of respect as far as you can go, or until your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Return to the starting position. During the exercise, keep your core braced and don’t bow your back.

HIPS cont’d on page 9

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HIPS cont’d from page 8

HIP ABDUCTION Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Loop a resistance band around both ankles, and then raise your right leg out to the side as far as you can. Hold in this position for a moment before slowly returning to the starting position. Switch legs and then repeat the exercise on the other side.

HIP ADDUCTION Loop one end of a resistance band low around a solid object, then stand to the left of that object before looping the other end of the band around your right ankle. Place your legs shoulder-width apart, and then pull in your right leg until your ankles touch. Repeat with your left leg, this time moving to the right side of the object.

GLUTE BRIDGE Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Raise your hips to form a straight line from your shoulders to your knees, using some type of support if you need to.

Clench your butt at the top of the movement, pause, and lower yourself back down.

People unaccustomed to exercise should consult their physicians before performing any of these exercises. In addition, if necessary, perform the exercises under the supervision of a personal trainer who can advise you on proper form and help you reduce your risk of injury.

Ease back into exercising In an ideal world, everyone would exercise every day. But as people age, finding time to work out is not so easy.

Commitments to work and family often take precedence over daily exercise. As a result, many people 50 and over might not have exercised regularly, or at all, in many years. But as children grow up and move out, people facing down their golden years often feel compelled to get back in the gym. That’s a wise decision that can increase a person’s chances of being healthy and happy in retirement. But before beginning a new exercise regimen, those over 50 should take heed of the following safety tips.

SPEAK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. The National Institute on Aging notes that even people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis can be physically active. However, anyone with such a condition and even those who don’t fall into those categories should consult with their physicians and receive a full physical before exercising. Such a consultation and checkup can shed light on any unknown issues, and physicians can offer advice on how to safely manage any problems that may arise.

BEGIN WITH LOW-INTENSITY EXERCISES. Even if you feel great and have maintained a healthy weight, don’t push yourself too hard at the start. Your body needs time to adjust to physical activity, so choose low-intensity exercises like walking and light strength training so your muscles, tendons and ligaments can adjust. Initially, exercise every other day so your body has ample time to recover between workouts.

EXERCISING OUTDOORS? CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLACES. Exercising outside provides the best of both worlds for many people, providing a chance to get healthy all while enjoying the great outdoors.

When exercising outdoors, choose areas that are not remote and where others can see you and offer help if you suffer an injury or have an accident. Boardwalks, public parks and outdoor gyms are safer places to work out than wooded areas or other places well off the beaten path.

STAY HYDRATED. The NIA notes that many people lose their sense of thirst as they age. But just because you aren’t thirsty does not mean you don’t need water, especially while exercising. Water regulates body temperature and lubricates the joints, thereby decreasing your risk of injury during exercise.

Just use some caution, and in some cases, take precautions, and exercising after 50 can help people live healthy lives well into their retirement.

– Metro News Service

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A senior’s best friend Pets are more than just companions; they’re good for your health, too Metro News Service Pets can bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, which was conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet.

Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help to lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.

This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic, which looked at 1,800 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts, found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur hearthealthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels.

PETS cont’d on page 11

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Spring 2020

Head for the kitchen cabinet instead of the medicine cabinet If you’re someone who’s hungry for a healthier lifestyle, here’s some help “Let food be thy medicine” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates, the ancient scholar considered to be the father of modern medicine. The advice – the notion that what people put in their bodies can heal and/or prevent certain conditions — is still good today, especially for those 50-and-over.

According to the World Health Organization, poor diet is a major contributor to many of the diseases that affect older people. Poor diet has been connected to the development of diabetes, and degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis also may be linked to the foods ones eat. The National Council for Aging Care says micronutrient deficiency is often a problem among the aging due to factors like lack of variety in diet and reduced food intake. Eating a variety of foods can provide all of the nutrients people need to stay healthy as they get older. Certain foods may be particularly helpful.

BRAIN-FRIENDLY FOODS: Foods such as avocado, leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, blueberries, and salmon are good sources of vitamin E, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients that may help ward off dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, advises Sonas Home Health Care.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent inflammation that can cause cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Aging.com says foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, should be consumed at least twice per week.

PETS cont’d from page 10 Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors – including those who may be divorced or widowed – feel more secure and happy.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made them feel loved.

Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so.

REDUCE PAIN: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided “significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.”

FEELING OF PURPOSE: Caring for an animal not only stimulates physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose.

ALTERED FOCUS: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health issues and preoccupations about loss or aging, according to New York-based psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld.

INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Pets require care, and that interaction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet.

IMPROVED HEALTH: Ongoing research from Harvard Medical School has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog.

STICK TO ROUTINE: Caring for pets helps seniors maintain a routine. Having structure after retirement can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline.

Pets bring many benefits to their owners’ lives, and they may be the perfect remedy for seniors looking for a friend and purpose.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: Fresh, canned or frozen produce tend to be high in micronutrients, including a variety of important vitamins that are essential for all components of health. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises eating dark green vegetables, such as leafy greens or broccoli, and orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes.

ENERGY-BOOSTERS: Choose whole grains that can provide sustained energy by way of healthy carbohydrates over processed grains.

BONE-FRIENDLY FOODS: Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, can prevent calcium from being leached from the bones, which contributes to conditions like osteoporosis.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM-FRIENDLY FOODS: The diges-

tive system slows down as the body ages, as the walls of the gastrointestinal tract thicken and digestive contractions that push waste along may slow down and become fewer. Foods rich in fiber can promote proper digestion by moving food through the digestive tract more easily. High-fiber foods also may help naturally reduce blood cholesterol levels.

HIGH-IRON FOODS: Without enough iron in the body, a person may feel tired and lethargic from a reduced production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. A lack of oxygen in body tissues from anemia can be serious, says the National Council for Aging Care. Tofu, spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and fortified breads and cereals are high in iron.

–Metro News Service

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SENIOR SNAPSHOT

Dorothy Jacobs celebrated her 104th birthday Dec. 2, and she spent many of those years – 41 in all – teaching.

“I wanted to be a teacher probably since I was able to talk,” Jacobs said. “I always wanted to be a teacher.”

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@shawmedia.com

A lot of teachable moments Not only has a former Sterling educator taught some history, she’s been a part of it for more than a century 12

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BY BRIAN WEIDMAN | bweidman@shawmedia.com STERLING – Flying solo has suited Dorothy Jacobs just fine for more than a century.

Jacobs turned 104 years young on Dec. 2, and though she has no children of her own to celebrate the day with her, she’s managed to touch countless children’s lives through the years as a teacher.

Many generations of youth in Sterling know her from being their teacher. After graduating from Sterling Township High School in 1934, she got a teaching certificate from Northern Illinois University in 1936. She then taught at Swan Lake Grade School (1937-43), Stone School (1944), East Science Ridge School (1945-48) and Lincoln Grade School (1949-78).

“I wanted to be a teacher probably since I was able to talk,” Jacobs said. “I always wanted to be a teacher.”

Many of her former students either have called her or dropped by over the years, to keep her informed of what was going on in their lives. She takes pride in their successes, but doesn’t like to take credit.

“I don’t take any special credit,” Jacobs said. “I just enjoyed teaching them, and I hope they enjoyed me, being in my room.”

JACOBS cont’d on page 13

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JACOBS cont’d from page 12 Jacobs has photos of all the classes she taught, from her first teaching job at Swan Lake School through to her long career at Lincoln School in Sterling.

For her 100th birthday, Jacobs addressed a fourth-grade class at Amboy Grade School, on the 100th day of school that year. She spoke about her young days on a farm with an outhouse, no running water, no telephone, no electricity and doing farm work with horses.

“They enjoyed that,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said her favorite activity growing up was softball. These days, she enjoys baseball; she’s a fan of the Chicago Cubs. She wasn’t quite born yet when the Cubs won back-to-back World Series in 1907 and 1908 over the Detroit Tigers, but got a lot of joy out of the team’s title in 2016, in seven games over the Cleveland Indians.

“I liked that because I like the Cubs,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs has been active in the Lutheran church her entire life, having volunteered at Messiah Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church School. She also volunteered time at the Bloodmobile, the Salvation Army and the FISH Food Pantry.

She also has dozens of nieces, great-nieces and -nephews, great-great-nieces and -nephews and even some great-great-great nieces and -nephews. One great-great-great-nephew, 2-year-old Eli Crownhart of Amboy, visits each Sunday; it’s one of the highlights of her week.

When asked the secret to her longevity, she didn’t hesitate for a second.

“I suppose most people would say I never married,” she said.

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SENIOR SAFETY TIPS

A new kind of masked bandit Criminals cash in on coronavirus by scamming seniors Metro News Service Restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 have saved untold numbers of lives.

The world has adjusted to such restrictions, and many parts of the world have relaxed measures as case numbers have declined.

While some communities have slowly begun to return to some semblance of normalcy after months of pandemic restrictions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned people against letting their guard down – and it’s not just talking about avoiding the virus.

They’re warning people to avoid scams, too, especially seniors.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General has advised the general public about scams involving Medicare fraud. Such schemes are targeting Medicare beneficiaries in an assortment of ways, including through text messages, social media, telemarketing calls, and even door-to-door visits. When perpetrating such frauds, scammers seek beneficiaries’ personal information, which they then use to fraudulently bill federal health care programs, potentially leaving their victims on the hook for costly unapproved tests related to COVID-19.

The CDC notes the importance of being aware of such schemes. Awareness can help consumers avoid being victimized by scammers, and the following are some additional measures people can take to protect themselves from COVID-19-related fraud.

requests for their Medicare or Medicaid numbers.

DO NOT TAKE CALLERS OR VISITORS AT FACE VALUE. Unsolicited callers or visitors request-

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NEVER CLICK ON LINKS IN EMAILS OR TEXT MESSAGES. Do not respond to, or open hyperlinks in, text messages or emails about COVID-19 from unknown individuals.

IGNORE OFFERS OR ADVERTISEMENTS FOR COVID-19 TESTING OR TREATMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. Offers or ads for testing are one

of the ways scammers are accessing personal information. Only a physician or other trusted healthcare provider should assess your condition and approve any requests for COVID-19 testing.

Need help?

Consumers who suspect COVID19 fraud can contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or visit Justice. gov/DisasterComplaintForm to file a complaint.

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SENIOR HEALTH Don’t get caught off guard by glaucoma Metro News Service

Keep an eye on your vision Early diagnosis key to treating glaucoma, cataracts Metro News Service When a brand new car is driven off a dealership lot, its plastic headlight lenses are clear and pristine. Over time, due to contaminants in the environment and oxidation from ultraviolet rays, those same lenses can become cloudy, yellow and opaque. Cloudy headlights can decrease visibility and potentially put drivers at risk.

Similar scenarios sometimes unfold involving the human eye. Starting around age 40, proteins in the eye may begin to break down and cause lenses to become cloudy. UV rays can be damaging to the eyes and contribute to this natural protein degradation. While pronounced vision problems may not occur immediately, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says vision can be impaired later in life. The organization All About Vision says that cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and also are the principal cause of blindness in the world.

Unprotected exposure to the sun is just one contributor to cataracts. Certain medical problems, such as diabetes, also can cause cataracts. An eye injury, eye surgery or radiation treatments on the upper body also can cause cataracts, as can corticosteroids, advises the AAO. Congenital cataracts, which occur when infants are born with cataracts, may be caused by infection, injury or poor development in the womb; otherwise, they can form in childhood.

Cataracts form in various regions

depending on the cause, according to AAV. SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT: A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens.

People with diabetes or those who take high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing this type of cataract.

NUCLEAR CATARACT: This cataract forms in the central zone of the lens and is often associated with aging.

CORTICAL CATARACT: This cataract is characterized by opacities that are white and wedge-like, which form on the periphery of the lens. Eventually they work to the center in a spoke-like fashion. Cortical cataracts can result from aging.

Symptoms of cataracts often can be slow to form, so people may not even notice they have cataracts until they start to block light, while others may learn of their presence during vision exams. Cataracts may cause vision that is filmy, blurry or foggy, indicates WebMD. In older adults, nearsightedness may be attributed to cataracts. Glare, both during the day and at night, also may affect vision due to cataracts. Double vision or changes in the way one sees color can be symptoms of cataracts as well.

Eye professionals can diagnose cataracts and make recommendations on the course of treatment. Cataract removal surgery is highly effective. More than 95 percent of people who have undergone the surgery experience improvements.

Such surgeries are often performed on an outpatient basis.

Vision should never be taken for granted. Appreciating one’s sense of sight involves scheduling routine eye exams and taking steps to protect one’s eyes. But safeguarding vision also involves understanding the various conditions that can affect eye health.

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that can lead to progressive damage to the optic nerve. People who experience glaucoma can lose nerve tissue and eventually suffer vision loss. Understanding what contributes to glaucoma can help people take the steps necessary to reduce their risk.

The American Optometric Association says that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 60 — although it can occur at any age. The Mayo Clinic states that many forms of glaucoma produce no warning signs and changes in vision may occur so gradually they are not detected until the condition has reached an advanced stage.

There are various types of glaucoma. However, primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form, affecting about three million Americans, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Primary open-angle glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time and fluid cannot drain out of the eye. As a result, intraocular pressure rises and damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting signals from the eye to the brain. People with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans over age 40 and Hispanics over the age of 60 have an increased risk, says the AOA. Those with thin corneas, which is the outer layer of the eye, also are at an elevated risk of developing glaucoma.

A less common type of glaucoma is called acute-closure glaucoma, which occurs due to an abrupt and rapid increase of eye pressure. This is an emergency situation that requires prompt care to prevent vision loss.

An eye doctor will conduct various tests to determine if a patient is at risk for glaucoma. The Mayo Clinic says tonometry is commonly used to measures intraocular pressure. During this test, the eye surface will be anesthetized with special drops. A tonometer will be applied lightly to the cornea, indenting it slightly. The resistance will be measured and calculated to determine if pressure is present.

Other tests include ...

• imaging tests that look for optic nerve damage that involve a dilated eye examination; • visual field tests to check for areas of vision loss; • pachymetry, which measures corneal thickness; and • an inspection of the drainage angle of the eye.

The effects of glaucoma cannot be reversed, but glaucoma can be caught early. Medications and lifestyle changes, like more frequent eye exams, can improve symptoms. Prescription eye drops can reduce the production of aqueous humor (fluid) in the eye and improve outflow of that fluid. Oral medications and surgery are other options as well.

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