Common Eye Problems With Age

There are a number of common eye problems that can affect people as they get older. Identifying these issues can help you keep your eyes healthy and prevent serious vision loss.

One of the most common types of eye problems is refractive errors. These are conditions that affect the way light enters your eye and can lead to blurred vision at all distances.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common eye problem that affects people with age. It is caused by a loss of flexibility in the lens of your eye, making it harder to focus on objects up close.

The lens is a clear, dome-shaped structure that bends (refracts) light rays to help you see clearly. When you look at close objects, the lens focuses them on your retina, the light-sensitive nerve in the back of your eye.

The focusing power of your eyes gradually decreases over time, starting in childhood. This happens because of the gradual loss of flexibility in the lens and muscle fibers around it. Check this out

Cataracts

Cataracts develop in your eye’s lens, which focuses rays of light on the retina. When the lens becomes cloudy, it can’t focus as well, making your vision blurry or dull.

About one in six Americans age 40 and older will get cataracts. They typically develop slowly, so it may take years for changes in your vision to become noticeable.

You can reduce your risk of getting cataracts by managing other health problems and by choosing a healthy diet. Smoking raises your risk, so quit as soon as you can. Also, avoid exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause permanent and irreversible vision loss. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States, and a major reason why people are advised to have regular eye checks.

Glaucoma happens when the fluid that fills the front of your eye (aqueous humor) gets too much pressure and damages your optic nerve. This is the nerve that connects your eyes to your brain. Click for more info

It can happen for a number of reasons. Common ones include a blockage of the drainage channels in your eye. Other conditions such as a cataract, inflammation, or injury can also lead to increased eye pressure.

Amblyopia

About 5% of kids have amblyopia, or "lazy eye." This problem occurs when the brain ignores signals sent from one eye.

It may be caused by strabismus (eye turn), refractive error, or another eye problem. Amblyopia usually develops between ages 6 and 9 and is much easier to treat while the connections between the eyes and brain are still developing.

Early treatment is always best. This includes getting consistent, early glasses or contact lenses with follow-up vision tests over a long period of time.

Colorblindness

Color blindness is an eye condition that causes difficulty with vision because of problems with the eyes' special cells that detect color. These are called cones and are located in the back of your eye.

Usually, people who are color blind have trouble seeing the difference between red and green (the most common type), or blue and yellow.

They may also see only shades of gray, known as achromatopsia.

Researchers have found that many older adults have abnormalities in their color vision that go unnoticed unless they get tested. This can make it difficult for them to carry out tasks that rely on color vision, such as recognizing pill colors, finding their way in a parking lot and even matching their clothes.

People with inherited color blindness can still lead normal lives, but they may have to wear special glasses and contact lenses. They may also need visual aids or apps to help them with certain things that rely on color vision.