AGING AND YOUR EYES

Poor eyesight is not inevitable with age. Some physical changes occur during the normal aging process that can cause a gradual decline in vision, but most older people retain good eyesight into their 80's and beyond.

Older people generally need brighter light for such tasks as reading, cooking, or driving a car. In addition, regular household light bulbs (incandescent bulbs) are better for older eyes than tubular overhead (or fluorescent) lights.

Certain eye disorders and diseases occur more frequently in old age, but a great deal can be done to prevent or correct these conditions. Here are some suggestions for protecting your eyes:

• Have regular health checkups to detect such treatable diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which may cause eye problems.
• Have a complete eye exam every 2 or 3 years since many eye diseases have no early noticeable symptoms. The exam should include a vision (and glasses) evaluation, eye muscle check, check for glaucoma, and an exam looking at the retina through dilated pupils.
• Seek eye health care more often if you have diabetes or a family history of eye disease. Make plans for care at once if you have signs such as loss or dimness of vision, eye pain, discharged fluids from the eye, double vision, or redness or swelling of the eye or eyelid.

COMMON EYE COMPLAINTS

Presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-uh)--a gradual decline in the ability to focus on close objects or to see small print--is common after the age of 40. People with this condition often hold reading materials at arm's length, and some may have headaches or "tired eyes" while reading or doing other close work. There is no known prevention for presbyopia, but the focusing problem can be relieved with glasses.

Floaters are tiny spots or specks that float across the field of vision Most people notice them in well-lighted rooms or outdoors on a bright day. Although floaters are normal, they may be a warning of certain eye problems, especially when occurring with light flashes. If you notice a sudden change in the type or number of spots or flashes, call your doctor.

Dry eyes occur when the tear glands produce too few tears. The result is itching, burning, or even reduced vision. An eye specialist can prescribe special eyedrop solutions ("artificial tears") to correct the problem.

Excessive tears may be a sign of increased sensitivity to light, wind, or temperature changes. In these cases, protective measures (such as sunglasses) may solve the problem. Tearing may also reflect more serious problems such as an eye infection or a blocked tear duct--both of which can be treated and corrected.

EYE DISEASES WHICH ARE COMMON IN OLDER PEOPLE

Cataracts are cloudy or opaque areas in part or all of the transparent lens located inside the eye. The lens is normally clear and allows light to pass through. So when a cataract forms, light cannot easily pass through the lens and this affects vision. Cataracts usually develop gradually and without pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. Some remain small and do not seriously affect vision. However, if a cataract becomes larger or denser, it can be surgically removed. Cataract surgery (in which the clouded lens is removed) is a safe procedure that is almost always successful. Cataract patients should discuss the risks and benefits of this optional procedure with their doctor. After surgery, vision is restored by using special eyeglasses or contact lenses or by having an intraocular lens implant (a plastic lens that is implanted in the eye during surgery).

Glaucoma occurs when there is too much fluid pressure in the eye, causing internal eye damage and gradually destroying vision. The basic cause of glaucoma is not known but, with early diagnosis and treatment, it can usually be controlled and blindness prevented. Treatment consists of prescription eyedrops, oral medications, laser treatments, or in some cases surgery. Glaucoma seldom produces early symptoms, and usually there is no pain from increased pressure. For these reasons, it is important for eye specialists to test for the disease during routine eye examinations in those over 35.

Retinal disorders are a leading cause of blindness in the United States. The retina is a thin lining on the back of the eye made up of nerves that receive visual images and pass them on to the brain. Retinal disorders include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment.

• Age-related macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula (a part of the retina responsible for sharp central and reading vision) stops functioning efficiently. The first signs may include blurring of reading vision, distortion or loss of central vision (for example, a dark spot in the center of the field of vision), and distortion in vertical lines. Early detection of macular degeneration is important since some cases may be handled well with laser treatments.
• Diabetic retinopathy, one of the possible problems of diabetes, occurs when the small blood vessels that feed the retina fail to do so properly. In the early stages of the condition, the blood vessels may leak fluid, which distorts vision. In the later stages, new vessels may grow and release blood in the center of the eye, resulting in serious loss of vision.
• Retinal detachment is a separation between the inner and outer layers of the retina. Detached retinas can usually be surgically reattached with good or partial renewal of vision. New surgical and laser treatments are being used today with increasing success.

LOW-VISION AIDS

Many people with visual impairments can be helped by using low-vision aids. These are special devices that provide more power than regular eyeglasses. Low-vision aids include telescopic glasses, light-filtering lenses, and magnifying glasses, along with a variety of electronic devices. (Some are designed to be hand-held; others rest directly on reading material.) Partially sighted individuals often notice surprising improvements with the use of these aids.

RESOURCES

Your area agency on aging can refer you to organizations providing services for people with visual impairments. Most libraries have books with large print. In many areas, libraries for those with special needs are equipped with magnifying lamps, machines which enlarge the print of books, and "talking" books on cassettes, records, and computer disks.

A number of organizations can send you more information. The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, supports research on eye disease and the visual system. They can send you free brochures on eye disorders. Write to the NEI, Building 31, Room 6A32, Bethesda, MD 20892.

The National Society to Prevent Blindness has several free pamphlets on specific diseases affecting the eyes. They also have Home Eye Test for Adults, which is available for $1.25 (to cover the cost of postage and handling). Contact the Society at 500 East Remington Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173; or call (800) 221-3004.

The American Foundation for the Blind can send a list of their free publications on vision. Contact the Foundation at 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001; or call (212) 502-7600.
Website:  http://www.afb.org

The National Association for the Visually Handicapped is a voluntary health agency that works with people who can partially see. Their address is 22 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10011.

The Vision Foundation publishes the Vision Resource List, which includes information on special products and services for visually impaired people. There is no charge for the List. Write to the Foundation at 818 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02172

The National Eye Care Project of the American Academy of Ophthalmology has a helpline number to refer callers to a local eye doctor or surgeon (ophthalmologist) who has volunteered to provide needed medical care. This public service program brings medical eye care and information to disadvantaged older people. Write to the AAO at P.O. Box 6988, San Francisco, CA 94120-6988; or call (800) 222-EYES.

Age Page: Aging & Your Eyes is published by National Institute on Aging and is not copyrighted. Source: Age Page: Aging & Your Eyes, 1993, p1, 3p, 1 diagram. Item Number: 9312177699