Aging is a part of life, and age-related changes to our body are inevitable, including changes to our eyes. As we hit around 60 years old, vision loss will almost always become something we’ll have to live with for the rest of our lives. There are, however, ways to minimize its effects, and in some cases, make them disappear completely. Presbyopia, macular degeneration, and cataracts are some of the more common ones we’ll experience as we get older.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a long-sightedness caused by the loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye. It usually strikes at the age of 40. It happens when the lens inside our eyes loses its ability to change shape — which is what our eyes do in order to focus on objects. As a result, focusing on objects up close will be almost impossible.
To compensate for this age-related vision loss, you will require either reading glasses, progressive lenses, or multifocal contact lenses. If you’re looking at a long-term, one-off solution, consider going for a presbyopia correction procedure (PresbyMax).
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Another age-related change to our eyes is Macular Degeneration. Also called AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among those aged 60 and above. It happens when the macula (the small central portion of the retina) deteriorates.
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration: dry form and wet form. These two forms of AMD have common symptoms – patients may suddenly develop blind spots and experience loss of central vision. Unlike myopia and presbyopia, there is no cure for AMD, but there are ways to slow it down, such as anti-angiogenic drugs and laser therapy.
Cataract
Cataracts are perhaps the most-heard age-related eye disease, common to the point where they’re considered a normal & aging vision change. Symptoms of cataracts include faded colors, double vision, and the most obvious one – seeing halos around light. This happens due to the clouding of the lens on your eyes. Cataracts could also lead to blindness and should therefore be treated quickly, if not immediately, upon detection or diagnosis. The only way to treat cataracts is through cataract removal surgery.
How to know if you might have cataract:
Cloudy/hazy vision
Glares and halos
Occasional double vision
Difficulty in seeing at night
Object appear yellowish or brownish
