The National Institute on Aging emphasizes the importance of managing the changes in aging vision. Like any part of your body, your eyes age. This causes your vision to change. Knowing how to manage age-related vision changes can reduce the challenges you go through every day. Here are the details that you must consider. 

Cataracts

Aging causes your eyes to have blurry spots. These spots are cataracts. Statistics show that about half of the population of 80-year-old adults in the United States have cataracts. Common symptoms are double vision and light sensitivity. Your eye doctor can help you manage this vision change with surgery. Correcting the cloudy lens can help you regain your clear vision. 

AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration)

This is a condition that causes the loss of your central vision. You may see an empty spot or blurry shapes with AMD. For dry AMD, you can prevent or slow vision loss by taking in more zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein. You can also talk to your doctor about laser treatments or eye injections to help prevent vision loss. 

Dry Eye Syndrome

Aging makes dry eye syndrome more common. Women tend to develop dry eyes at any age. Burning and stinging in the eyes are the usual sensations. These are symptoms of inadequate tears that lubricate your eyes. You can manage this eye condition by applying eye ointments or eye drops. Using humidifiers can add more moisture to your indoor air. 

Diabetic Retinopathy

Your diabetes diagnosis may cause you to have diabetic retinopathy. This eye ailment develops from high levels of blood glucose. Excessive amounts of sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes. This results in blurry vision or spots. In some cases, there could be a dark spot in one’s central vision. This could lead to vision loss. 

Keeping your blood sugar under control can help prevent this eye condition. Doing so can also slow its progress. Eye injections and laser surgery can help manage diabetic retinopathy. Seeing your eye doctor for regular eye checks can help you deal with your symptoms. 

Eyelid Problems

Eyelid health tends to deteriorate with aging—with eyelids starting to droop or sag. Some people develop a baggy appearance around the eyes. There is also a risk of developing ptosis, in which the lower eyelid sags because of facial muscle weakness. Other people have dermatochalasis, where excess skin forms around the eyes. 

Eyelid inflammation is also an issue. Blepharitis is a condition in which the eyes are swollen, red, and sore. You can manage this eye condition with lid scrubs, antibiotics, and eye compresses. Eye drops can raise the eyelid. Surgery can improve the placement of the eyelids. 

Glaucoma

This condition causes fluid to build up in the eye. This increases your IOP or intraocular pressure, which then damages your optic nerve. If you do not get treatment for glaucoma, you will experience vision loss. Studies show that this eye condition is the primary cause of blindness in adults above 60. 

Glaucoma does not have obvious symptoms. Most people only know about this condition when they experience vision loss. Regular eye checks can help catch glaucoma in its early stages. Treating it can slow its progression. Medications or eye surgery can help decrease your IOP.

Managing age-related vision changes can help you retain a good quality of life during your golden years. At Coastal Vision, we help our patients reach their visual health goals through regular checks and specialized treatments. Please visit our clinics in Chino, Irvine, Long Beach, and Orange, California, for an in-person consultation. Call us at 888-501-4496 to set an appointment or inquire about our age-related vision care packages.