Our vision is one of life’s most priceless treasures. Be it gazing into the eyes of your giggling baby between those numerous naps, or lovingly at your partner on your wedding day, some of our most meaningful and memorable moments include connecting with one another through eye contact. It’s why the prospect of losing one’s sight is among the few circumstances in life that may make someone fearful.
Growing older, retaining good eyesight becomes more crucial for a healthier quality of living, as age-related eye conditions do better with early detection and intervention. Read on to learn all about the importance of healthy vision in your senior years, the common causes of age-related vision loss, and what golden-agers can do to maintain healthy vision.
Common Causes of Age-Related Vision Loss
It’s common to see changes to your eyesight as you get older. For instance, older persons frequently experience impairments or lose their ability to discriminate between similar colors and perceive details close-up, plus take longer to respond to fluctuations in light intensity. In addition, there are numerous eye conditions that can cause vision loss in aging adults, and each one has a different course of treatment. These are some of the main causes:
- Age-related macular degeneration –The center region of the retina is impacted, compromising central vision. Since this condition renders it difficult to perceive tiny details, hobbies like watching television or reading books will be challenging.
- Diabetic retinopathy –High blood glucose levels in diabetes patients can severely harm the delicate blood vessels in their eyes. The worst-case scenario for diabetic retinopathy is complete blindness. This potential issue is among the key reasons why proper management of one’s blood glucose levels is imperative!
- Glaucoma –Injury to the ocular nerve caused by multiple forms of glaucoma can weaken peripheral vision and develop into tunnel vision.
- Cataract –This is vision loss brought on by the eye’s lens getting clouded. Thankfully, surgery can generally fix this and is a regularly performed operation with positive results.
How to Keep Yourself Safe
First and foremost, if you find yourself experiencing vision problems, it’s essential to inspect your house for possible tripping risks to keep yourself safe. One other major element of your safety pertains to driving your vehicle. It’s important to have a relative, friend, or senior living transportation service drive you to an eye doctor consultation or follow-up appointments if you have eyesight problems.
How to Take Care of Your Vision
Maintaining good eye health is comparable to preserving your overall health in many respects. Proper nutrition, quitting smoking, and managing blood glucose levels are all excellent methods to improve visual health. When outside, wear shades to shield your eyes from the sun’s glare. When using your digital devices, always keep the blue light filter on. It’s also crucial to arrange routine eye exams in order to check for any prospective eye diseases.
Getting an Eye Examination
The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises those 65 and above to have a full eye check-up every one to two years even if they don’t have any current eye issues. And if you are presently experiencing any visual impairments or eye diseases, it’s crucial to continually heed your eye doctor’s directions.
