Catch Problems with Aging Eyes Before Vision Loss

Behavior changes indicate vision issues Is your older adult avoiding certain games with grandchildren that involve reading? Or maybe they’re mixing up canned foods with similar labels? Are they frequently stumbling or tripping over things that seem to be directly in front of them? Vision issues can be hard to detect in aging eyes, even for your older adult, because they start slowly and are usually painless. Behavior changes like these could mean it’s time to get their vision checked by an eye doctor. Early treatment is critical for eye problems Getting regular exams is the key to keeping your aging eyes healthy. The four most common older adult eye problems can be identified early and treated by an eye doctor. Don’t wait until vision loss has already occurred. If you notice any of these signs of vision changes or problems, get your older adult to the eye doctor ASAP!

1. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

What is AMD?

• Damage to the part of the retina that lets us see straight ahead.
• Usually causes a slow, painless loss of vision.
• Leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans aged 65 and older.

Signs of AMD

• Shadowy areas in the center of their vision.
• Not seeing things right in front of them.
• Unusually fuzzy or distorted vision.

AMD Treatment

• Treatments may delay the progression or improve vision.
• There isn’t a complete cure for AMD.

2. Cataracts

What are cataracts?

• Causes vision to become cloudy or hazy.
• Often starts gradually and, at first, causes barely noticeable vision changes.
• Most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40.

Signs of cataracts

• Having a harder time seeing the clock or reading.
• Blurry vision.

Treatments for cataracts

• Early stage: Stronger glasses, magnifiers, or better lighting.
• Later stages: Simple, quick, and almost painless surgery.

3. Diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy)

What is diabetic retinopathy?

• A complication of diabetes.
• Caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.
• At first it’s not noticeable, but over time, it can worsen and cause vision loss, usually in both eyes.

Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

• Not seeing things that should be obvious in front of them.
• The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely they will get diabetic retinopathy.

Treatments

• Depend on the stage of diabetic retinopathy.
• It’s best to identify and treat this early.
• If some vision loss has already happened, it can’t always be recovered.

4. Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

• A group of eye disorders that damage the optic nerve. This nerve carries information from your eye to your brain.
• Most types cause no pain and have no symptoms until significant vision loss occurs.

Signs of glaucoma

• Not being able to see things in their peripheral vision.
• A routine eye exam detects glaucoma early by measuring the pressure inside your eye.

Glaucoma treatments

• Medicated eye drops keep eye pressure low.
• It’s important to use the prescribed eye drops because not using them can actually lead to blindness. Yikes!

Next Steps > Find low-cost eye care in your area

By Connie Chow, Contributing Writer and Founder of DailyCaring.com Images: netdoctor, The Doctors (56 sec), Robbins Eye Center, Wichita Optometry, vincett eye care associates