Caring for Our Eyes as We Age

As we age, so do our eyes. Although weakened vision is inevitable and the chance of disease increases, there are preventive steps you can take to strengthen your eye health. There are solutions available to help alleviate declining eyesight.

Identifying Declining Eye Health

Though aging eyes will always be working against you, there are preventive measures you can take to maintain good eye health. Many eye problems can be prevented or corrected if caught early. The most crucial step is making sure you are attending regular appointments with your eye doctor. It is also essential to see your primary care physician regularly to check for diseases that cause eye problems.

Understanding Common Eye Problems When Aging

As you age, your eye health will change. While declining eyesight is not ideal, you can still enjoy an active lifestyle thanks to devices and medicine that make good eyesight easier to maintain. Here are some of the most common challenges you may run into as you age, as well as simple treatments for relief.

• Dry eyes are a symptom of aging and can be itchy and uncomfortable. This occurs when the eyes stop producing enough tears or quality tears. Suppose you feel you are experiencing dry eyes. In that case, you can try using a humidifier in your home or see a doctor to obtain eye drops.
• Tears may build up a little more easily as you age, especially in bright lights, wind, or temperature changes. To prevent tearing, use sunglasses or shield your eyes in such conditions. If tearing occurs outside of these conditions, you should consider seeing a doctor as it could be a more severe problem, such as an eye infection or a blocked tear duct.
• Floaters, or small specks that some people may find floating in their field of vision, are normal for aging eyes; however, it can also signify more severe eye problems. If you notice eye floaters, it would be wise to visit the eye doctor for a checkup as soon as possible.
• The most common sign of aging eyesight is difficulty seeing close objects or small print. Fortunately, there are many solutions that can help ease this sight obstacle like reading glasses, magnifying glasses, and light filtering glasses. When viewing digital media, devices can be adjusted to increase font size and offer zoom capabilities.

Watch for Eye Disease and Disorders

You are also more prone to eye diseases and disorders as you age. Many diseases can be treated if they are caught quickly, so yearly checkups are crucial to healthy eyesight. Even though you may need more doctor visits than you are used to, these checkups can prevent future blindness, so take the time to catch diseases before they become serious.

Information received through CEC vision care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

CEC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VSP Vision.

Sources: American Optometric Association (AOA), American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), The Vision Council (TVC), National Eye Institute (NEI), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).