Though eyesight can be maintained well into old age, many elderly individuals experience age-related changes to the eyes that cause vision problems.
These include general changes such as slight shrinking of the eyeball, an increase in connective tissue around the eye, degeneration of some cells and narrowing of the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the eye. Other changes include loss of muscle strength in the eye, thinning of the skin in the eyelids and loss of fat from around the eye orbit.
Presbyopia or Far-Sightedness is the Most Common Vision Change
Age-related diseases cause much more sudden and severe changes to vision. The most common one, presbyopia, affects almost every individual over the age of 40 years. This condition, also called farsightedness, is the result of a gradual loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye causing it to flatten and become more dense.
For these reasons, the lens is less flexible and less able to change shape and bend the entering rays of light when focusing on objects close to the eye, such as reading a newspaper. Presbyopia causes most people to need reading glasses by the age of 55.
Glaucoma is a Serious Eye Disease That Can Lead to Blindness if Untreated
Glaucoma is the most serious eye disease associated with aging and is not common with individuals below the age of 40. If this disease is left untreated, it can cause blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the pressure in the eye is elevated because the aqueous humor, the fluid in the eye is not drained sufficiently. As the pressure in the eye increases, some of the blood vessels are squeezed shut leading to damage to the optic nerve fibers.
Glaucoma can develop for age-related diseases as well as injury and illness and may occur so slowly that the individual is not aware of it, until damage to the eye occurs. Symptoms of glaucoma include blurred vision, circles of light around bright objects, pain and watering in the eye.
These symptoms may occur along with headaches and nausea. An early sign of glaucoma is the gradual loss of peripheral or side vision in both eyes, eventually causing tunnel vision if left untreated.
Regular Eye Exams are Important to Prevent and Treat Glaucoma
There is no cure for glaucoma and if left untreated it can cause total blindness. It is possible to reduce the pressure before it causes damage to the retina of the eye. Treatment includes medication, eye drops and surgery to allow drainage of the eye.
It is important for individuals over the age of 40, particularly those with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease to have regular eye exams and health checkups. Glaucoma may also be hereditary, so a family history of the disease should be discussed with a physician.
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Reference:
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Noreen Kassem - Noreen Kassem is a hospital doctor based in London, UK. She has extensive experience in clinical research and an undergraduate honors ...
