Treatments for Age-Related Vision Loss

If you’ve started noticing changes in your vision as the years pass, you’re not alone. For many people, vision loss is a natural part of the aging process, especially for those of us who have a hereditary predisposition or engage in certain lifestyle habits, like smoking. What’s not so well known is that nearly all age-related vision changes can be treated. Read on as a Lake Stevens, WA optometrist] discusses common age-related vision problems and available treatments.

Common Age-Related Eye Problems & Their Treatments

Dry Eyes

Eye problems have become common in today’s digital age, but people in their 50s are particularly susceptible to developing dry eye syndrome. After years of sun exposure, wind, stress, and other factors, the clear outer layer of the cornea starts to lose its ability to lubricate your eyes. While over-the-counter artificial tears and nighttime gels may offer a degree of relief, it’s always best to have your eyes examined to rule out more serious underlying conditions.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma, often referred to as the “silent disease,” doesn’t produce symptoms until the later stages of the disease process. In advanced cases, glaucoma has damaged the eye’s optic nerve to the point where it can cause irreversible blindness. When treated early on, your optometrist can prescribe eye drops to manage the condition. Laser surgery may also be an option.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition where the lenses of your eyes become less flexible, which makes it difficult to see close up. This accounts for why many people start to need reading glasses in their mid-40s. Eye surgery can correct this condition, and what’s more, many who undergo surgery also see an improvement in their distance vision.

Floaters

Floaters appear as moving, tiny black or white specks in your visual field. They develop as the gel-like fluid behind your eye lens starts to break down, usually when a person is in their late 50s and 60s. While not usually a serious problem, if you experience a sudden burst of floaters along with light flashes, see your eye doctor right away.

Cataracts

Cataracts produce a halo effect whenever you look at a light. It also makes your vision hazy, in general. Cataracts develop as the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy and discolored. Eye surgery can clear this condition right up.

So if you’ve come to accept aging’s effects on your vision, now you know you don’t have to. Schedule an appointment with your Lake Stevens, WA optometrist today and find out what your options really are!