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Cataract Care & Other Tips For Healthy Aging Month

The American Academy of Ophthalmology celebrates Healthy Aging Month to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss, as well as to help seniors take care of their sight. To that end, here’s some more information about eye aging signs, cataract care and the best eye care tips.

Common Conditions That Occur With Age

One in six Americans age 65 and older have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and the risk of eye disease increases with age. Here are some of the most prevalent problems that seniors experience with age:

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Dry eye

Eye Aging Signs

There are some eye changes that naturally happen as you get older, like difficulty seeing at night and trouble reading fine print. Floaters in your vision, dry eyes and swollen eyelids can also occur more when you reach your later years.

While most of these symptoms are relatively harmless, there are others that might indicate one of the diseases mentioned above. Such signs to watch out for include fuzzy vision, sudden flashes of light, seeing halos around lights, dark or empty areas in your field of vision and more. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s best to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible.

The Best Eye Care Tips For Seniors

Unfortunately, despite these elevated risks, many older adults neglect to see an ophthalmologist for care. Don’t let this be you. It’s incredibly important to get in with an eye doctor. Not only can they help you improve declining vision through a variety of options, but they can also identify issues with your eye health and overall health.

Additionally, it’s important to get certain conditions treated as quickly as you can - like cataracts, which are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Around half of people in the United States will develop cataracts by age 75. The faster you address the problem, the better the outcome. But you won’t know you have them, or how to best proceed with cataract care, until you see an eye doctor.

At any age, the following behaviors can improve your eye health, so it’s important to keep incorporating them as you get older:

  • Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing 100% UV protection sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim.
  • Stay physically healthy, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a wide variety of nutritious foods, maintaining normal blood pressure, giving up smoking and managing diabetes.
  • Give your eyes a break from devices, looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

If you’re having any eye aging signs or problematic symptoms, contact us today to schedule an eye exam. We would love to help you improve your vision and eye health for years to come!