Looking After Your Eyes as You Age
As you get older your body undergoes a number of changes, and the ageing process also affects your eyes. You might find that you start holding books further away from you, that seeing in dim light is harder, or that your vision becomes a little fuzzy.
At EyeQ we can help you rectify most of your age-related eye problems, helping you see clearly and live life to the full. Our progressive optometry practices are well equipped and can aid you in protecting and maintaining your vision and eye health as you get older.
Looking After Your Eyesight
The key to good eye health is having regular eye tests, as these tests can help you pick up on any issues early on, and address them as soon as possible. If you are over 65, it’s a good idea to have a dilated eye exam every year as this helps the optometrist see right to the back of each eye and identify symptoms that are otherwise undetectable.
If you wear glasses, having the prescription checked annually is also essential, and the same applies for contact lenses. People who suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing issues with their eyes, and regular checks can in some cases, even save your sight.
If you experience any of the following symptoms you need to see your optometrist right away:
- Suddenly struggling to see
- Sudden blurred vision
- Seeing flashes of light
- Seeing double
- Eye pain
- Redness or swelling of your eye, or eyelid
Common Age-Related Eye Issues
There are several common age-related eye problems, and while many are easy to treat others can be signs of a more serious issue, and early detection is essential.
Presbyopia is one of the most common “ageing’ eye issues and refers to the loss of ability to read small print or see close objects. Reading glasses are usually all that’s required to fix this problem, but as you get older you may need to switch to a stronger prescription.
Tearing, or having an excess of tears is also very common and can stem from being light sensitive, or a condition called Dry Eye. Eye drops can treat this condition, but sometimes tearing can be the symptom of a more serious condition such as infection or a blocked tear duct, so it’s important not to disregard it.
You may also find that as you age you become susceptible to floaters, or what look like bits of cobweb floating across your vision. Floaters can be just a normal symptom of ageing, but they may indicate retinal detachment, so it is always suggested you have them checked out.
Eye Disorders And Diseases
Cataracts, Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, corneal tears or detachment and Diabetic retinopathy are just a few of the more common age-related disorders, and these must be addressed as speedily as possible. Many of these conditions can lead to loss of vision and blindness, and an eye care professional will be able to advise of a course of treatment to reduce the chances of this becoming a reality.
To keep your eyes in the best possible shape, it’s important that you also eat healthily, wear sunglasses that block UV rays and keep your weight under control. These factors can go a long way to helping you avoid diseases and eye issues.
If you have concerns about your eyes or its time for an eye test, get in touch with EyeQ and let our professional, friendly optometrists help you look after your sight!