Take care of your eyes and they'll look after you
November 12, 2008
Unless you wore glasses as a kid, you've probably been taking your vision for granted most of your life.
You read, you play games, you watch movies, you work, you sew, but, maybe when you venture into your 30s, close work seems to be fuzzy. The ophthalmologist you consult prescribes glasses, and life is clear again.
That's the simpler side of eye care.
There serious conditions and ailments, including macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts, can afflict the aging eye, and glasses are merely crutches or of no value at all.
"They are the three main vision diseases of aging," says Dr. Michael Fischer, a Carson City ophthalmologist.
Fischer stresses that as we grow older, we can prevent vision problems.
"Have routine eye exams to identify potential problems; don't smoke; eat properly; watch alcohol intake and wear good sunglasses outdoors," he said.
Cataracts
The main symptom is a painless, progressive loss of visual acuity with increased blurring of vision.
Night driving often becomes difficult -- and dangerous.
"Sunlight, obesity and poor diet have been associated with cataract formation," he said. "The majority of cataracts occur in old age from unknown causes."
The treatment is surgery to remove the affected lens.
"Cataract extraction is one of the less complex and most successful operations in all surgery and the expectation of an excellent result, provided the eye is otherwise healthy, is well over 90 percent," according to the American Medical Association.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the most common major eye disorders in people over 60, and is responsible for at least 15 percent of blindness in adults.
With glaucoma, the pressure of the fluid in the eye rises abnormally high and damages the eye.
"If glaucoma doesn't respond to medication," Fischer says, "It can be controlled with surgery."
Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD as it is often called, is a degenerative disease affecting the macula, that part of the retina responsible for central vision.
It is the sharp vision in that area enabling people to recognize the detail in objects and faces, and to allow them to read and drive.
AMD develops when cells in the macula break down, gradually causing fuzzy vision and, eventually, blindness.
The two forms of AMD are "wet" and "dry." Dry AMD is the most common and usually progresses slowly, with minimal loss of vision. But it can morph into a more severe form of AMD called wet AMD. While the wet form is responsible for only 10 to 15 percent of all cases, it's much more apt to severely damage the macula and cause a rapid loss of central vision.
In the United States, AMD is a major cause of central vision loss and blindness in people over 65, some experts lower the age by 10 years to 55. But there is hope.
"AMD can be slowed by following a diet high in antioxidants found in certain fruits and greens," Fischer says.
Furthermore, a study published in the September 2007 Archives of Ophtholmology found that people whose diets are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin have less of a risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
Food sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include egg yolks, corn, broccoli, green beans, yams, Brussel sprouts, collard greens, cabbage, kale, spinach, carrots, kiwi fruit and honeydew melon.
Whether or not you suspect an eyesight problem, Fischer recommends, "Have a routine eye exam."