Eye Health in Seniors: Our Tips for Preventing Eye Diseases

Age and Vision

Eyes, complex organs, undergo natural transformations over time. Presbyopia is an example that illustrates the evolution of your eyes as you age. This condition affects everyone sooner or later, but it typically manifests in individuals aged 40 and older. Resulting from the thickening of the lens, presbyopia leads to focusing problems. For instance, you might have more difficulty reading small characters at a certain distance because, with presbyopia, many people need to move the text farther away to see it clearly.

Among the perceptible visual changes with advancing age, Health Canada also mentions the following discomforts:

• Increased sensitivity to light
• Loss of depth perception
• Taking more time to adjust to darkness
• Difficulty distinguishing colors and other contrasts
• Dry eyes and tearing

While vision deterioration is normal, it can sometimes signal more serious issues, including various infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, tumor-related, traumatic, or degenerative eye diseases.

Common Eye Diseases to Watch Out For

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):

This disease primarily affects patients aged 55 and over and impacts central vision. As the early stages of this pathology may sometimes present no symptoms, regular eye examinations are essential to detect it early and evaluate options to slow its progression.

Cataracts:

Cataracts occur when the eye's lens becomes opaque, causing blurred vision. This condition mostly affects patients aged 60 and over, and in advanced cases, cataracts can be treated with surgery.

Glaucoma :

Glaucoma encompasses various pathologies affecting the optic nerve. Among the different types, open-angle glaucoma (90% of cases) often shows no symptoms in the early stages, but its progression can sometimes lead to irreversible vision loss. Early diagnosis allows for assessing possible solutions to treat the disease.

Dry Eye Syndrome:

Dry eye syndrome can be caused by various factors, with aging being the number one cause. Other factors include medication use, eye surgery, wearing contact lenses, eyelid disease, or dysfunction of the Meibomian glands. These elements affect the quantity and/or quality of tears that normally hydrate the eyes. Severe cases of dry eye can interfere with daily activities. However, various medications, products, and specialized treatments exist to alleviate the associated discomfort.

Practical Guide: Three Tips to Preserve Your Eye Health

1. Prioritize Prevention:

Regular check-ups with an optometrist not only help prevent or diagnose diseases early but also maintain optimal visual comfort. Dry eye syndrome is an example of an eye condition that may sometimes be overlooked, despite its impact on your daily life. Your optometrist can recommend tailored treatment or solutions, such as I-MED Pharma products, to relieve your eyes and restore optimal visual comfort.

2. Adopt Healthy Habits:

A balanced diet, avoiding tobacco, and physical activity contribute to maintaining good eye health. Another seemingly obvious (yet often neglected) habit: protect your eyes when exposing them to potential aggressors (wind, UV rays, objects, etc.). For example, when engaging in sports or recreational activities, wearing protective glasses or sunglasses is essential.

3. Be Allies to Your Eyes:

Whether at work or during leisure, pay close attention to lighting and ergonomics, and do not underestimate the importance of wearing your contact lenses or glasses. Major lens manufacturers like Zeiss, Nikon, Hoya, and Essilor offer a diverse range of ophthalmic lenses and continuously improving technology to provide comfortable and precise vision. By opting for a pair of glasses tailored to your needs, you provide your eyes with the best conditions to accompany you in your daily tasks. Having consistently optimal vision also enables you to identify changes in your visual abilities more quickly.

In conclusion, investing in the health of your eyes is a wise choice that contributes to maintaining an optimal quality of life. Simple preventive measures, coupled with regular monitoring, can make all the difference.