Overview
Chances of contracting various diseases increase with age. One commonly encountered age-related condition is the age-related eye disease, or ARED. Dr. Robert Nussenblatt, scientific director of the National Eye Institute, states that people aged 65 years and older are at great risk of acquiring ARED. Cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are the major AREDs. Regular eye examinations can reduce the chances developing age-related eye disease and prevent loss of sight.
Cataracts
Cataract is the most common cause for the loss of vision in older people ages 65 and older. Your eye lens is made of water and protein. In some circumstances, the protein present in the lens clumps together in a small region of the lens. This clouded protein is referred to as cataract and it hinders the proper flow of light in the lens, thus impairing your sight. Initially, images look blurred and, if left untreated, it can result in the loss of sight. Treatment involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a new lens.
Glaucoma
The condition of your eyesight largely depends on the healthy condition of the optic nerves. According to National Eye Institute, glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that damages optic nerves leading to total loss of vision. There is a regular flow of fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye to keep the tissues nourished. Glaucoma occurs when this fluid flow is impeded due to drain blockages, resulting in variances in the eye pressure. Thus, the optic nerve becomes damaged and vision is impaired. Once glaucoma is diagnosed, medications, conventional surgeries, laser surgery or a combination of these often provide a solution.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetics are prone to retinopathy, a condition in which blood vessels in the eye region undergo substantial changes. These blood vessels are so fragile and brittle that they break and lead to hemorrhage. Thus the eye gel becomes clogged leading to vision loss. As stated on Aging Eye, 40 percent of diabetics are affected by some form of diabetic retinopathy. If blood sugar levels are controlled effectively, then the onset of this condition can be impeded. Patients affected with diabetic retinopathy can undergo laser treatment to restore their vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
According to Nussenblatt, nearly 5 percent of the 34 million affected adults experience sight loss to some degree due to AMD. There are two types of AMD, namely dry and wet AMD. In dry AMD, the cells of the macula, the light sensitive region in the retina, break down. When vision is focused on an object, light is focused on the macula. As age progresses, the macula’s light-sensitive cells are gradually spent resulting in AMD. In wet AMD, there is a growth of new blood vessels behind the retina which causes blood leakage. Therefore, vision is more slowly undermined.
Dry Eye
According to the National Eye Institute, dry eye is a disorder caused by either excessive evaporation or deficiency of tears in your eyes. It can damage the interpalpebral ocular surface and leads to discomfort, visual disturbance, inflammation and unstable tear film.
About this Author
Based in Northern California, Devin Dupre-Neary has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UC Davis. Rather than move towards a master’s or work in a hospital, he chose a different route. In 2009, he wrote professionally, part-time, writing articles on a host of subjects from health issues to gardening.
