SHARES
As age catches up, most notice that their vision start to deteriorate. Some may need reading glasses to help them concentrate on materials close-up; meanwhile, others may have more trouble adjusting to glare or differentiating colours. These changes are parts and parcel of the aging process. Nevertheless, becoming more senior does put one at a higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions.
Cataract
A cataract is the clouding of the lens. The lens, which is composed of water and protein, is usually transparent. However, if the protein clumps together, the entrance of light into the eye becomes obstructed, resulting in blurred vision.
Other common symptoms include:
- Blurred vision despite glasses
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Double vision in the affected eye
- Glare, when light source appears too bright
- Halo around light sources
Glaucoma
Glaucoma happens when the optic nerves are damaged by high pressure in the eye. There are usually no initial symptoms. As the condition progresses, it affects the side or peripheral vision. If left untreated, worsening tunnel vision can take place. Objects that are not in the center of the field of view can no longer be properly seen. Eventually, it can lead to blindness.
Aged-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
A person with AMD experiences blurring of central vision, while the peripheral vision remains intact. This condition damages the macula, a small spot in the retina, which is required for sharp, central vision. However, the peripheral vision is unaffected because the rest of the retina is still healthy.
There are usually no visual symptoms during the initial stages of AMD. As the condition progresses, the central vision appears wavy or blurry, and eventually disappears completely. Some might also have difficulties detecting details and colours. While AMD does not result in complete blindness, the loss of central vision can impair daily functions, such as driving, reading or cooking.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy occurs due to damaged blood vessels in the retina. These damages can happen due to consistently high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which cause the blood vessels to be leaky and grow where they should not. These fragile vessels are prone to breakage, resulting in bleeding episodes which block the vision.
Again, there are no visual symptoms in the early stages. In later stages, the symptoms that may be observed are:
- Floaters, or shadows that appear to “float” across field of vision
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Partial loss of vision
- Pain in the eye
As most age-related eye condition starts without obvious symptoms, regular eye exam every one to two years is recommended. If you or your loved one noticed a significant change in vision, visit an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
To learn more about tips to take care of your aging eyes, read here.
Acknowledgement:
Dr. Nikolle Tan, Ophthalmologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, who has contributed to this article.
References:
- The 4 Most Common Age-Related Eye Diseases. [Internet] [cited 2018 July 25] Available from: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/the-4-most-common-age-related-eye-diseases-145190.htm
- Age-related eye diseases. [Internet] [cited 2018 July 25] Available from: https://nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/aging_eye
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
