6 Age-related Vision Problems You must not Ignore

Our world is filled with enchanting beauties, natural landscapes and man-made marvels. The human race has been gifted with the wonderful gift of sight, bringing everything to life and making the world lively. But, sometimes, our increasing age can affect the way we see and perceive things. Ageing is a natural process that brings in a lot of changes in the human body, and many organs may stop functioning completely or stop working to their fullest capacity. A diminishing vision is the most common of them all and is the topic of the article today!

Comprehending Age-related Vision Changes

As we age, it's common to have age-related vision problems, which may include loss of close vision, difficulty in identifying various colours, and requiring time to adjust to varying levels of lumination. These vision-related defects may be corrected with the help of spectacles, contact lenses, surgeries, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The risk of certain eye conditions is higher and increases with age. Regular eye examination is the best way to keep the vision in check. 

Similar to the other organs in the body, the eyes also undergo several transformations as age advances. Following are a few common vision concerns that one encounters as the age advances:

• Requirement for better lighting
• Difficulty in reading and doing other chores
• A reflection that causes a glare
• Problems in distinguishing the colours
• Reduction in tear production.

Common Eye Diseases and Conditions 

Age-related blurry vision and headache with vision loss are conditions that are quite common nowadays but, if ignored, can lead to complete or partial vision loss. Following are the types of vision problems commonly found in elderly people that can typically increase with age. 

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This is generally where an individual is unable to see objects clearly and unable to do routine things like driving, reading a book, etc.  Ophthalmologists generally check for family history and also look for any possibilities of AMD by performing a dilated eye test on the patients.

Cataracts

In recent years, this disease has become very common among the middle-aged population. Cataracts are cloudy zones in the lens of the eye that cause blurred vision. The cataracts can vary in size and growth. Some may grow and affect the vision of the patient. It is best treated by a safe surgery that can restore the vision completely. 

Glaucoma

It is a disease  with no initial symptoms of pain. It is generally caused by higher fluid pressure inside the eyes of the patient. If left untreated, it may cause loss of vision or blindness. 

Diabetic Retinopathy

It is very common in patients who are  diabetic . This disease generally progresses slowly and without any warning signs. Ageing can make it worse; keeping the blood sugar under check can prevent diabetic retinopathy to a level.

Dry Eyes

This is a common condition in most working. The excessive usage of mobile phones, laptops, and TVs causes dryness in the eye. When the tear glands don’t work very well there may be a burning sensation or some sense of discomfort around the eye region. This becomes common as one age, especially in the case of women. Eye care professionals generally suggest using eye drops or a humidifier for better results. 

Presbyopia 

Age-related vision loss presbyopia is a slow but constant deterioration of the ability of the eye to see the objects close by with ageing. 

Listed below are some signs of ageing eyes that indicate a vision emergency! One must rush to a hospital in case: 

• There is a sudden change in the vision, which makes things look blurry
• If one is experiencing floaters in the vision
• Having eye pain 
• Experiencing double vision
• Having redness or swelling in the eyes

How can You Protect Your Eyes?

How often do you get your eyesight checked? Well, it is a vital part of a health check that one must go through every year. Implementing the corrective measures at an early stage will do better than finding them at a later stage. The gradual changes in the ageing eye usually do not harm the vision. However, there may be some serious conditions like leakage of tears from the eye, which may happen due to light sensitivity or changes in temperature. 

Taking the aid of a sunglass or eye drops may help. Most people don't find any changes in the early stages of an eye disease. Every individual above the age of 50 should undergo a dilated eye exam every 6 months or on an annual basis. Even if you do not wear glasses or contact lenses  does not always mean that you have a healthy pair of eyes. The eye dilation exam enlarges the pupil, which makes it easier for the ophthalmologist to examine the person and diagnose in the best way possible. 

Tips for Healthy Eyes 

Taking care of your eyes is essential, no matter what age you are. The following tips can be followed by people of all ages to prevent eye-related problems:

• As far as possible, follow a healthy and a balanced diet 
• Maintain  the ideal BMI as per your body
• Being physically active
• Taking vitamin and nutritional supplements
• Say no to smoking
• Using protective eye gears
• Resting your eyes during work hours
• Reducing the screen-time
• Use eye drops to avoid dryness in the eyes
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, which reduces the thickness of the cornea

Let’s Wrap it Up

Ageing is a natural phenomenon that is universally designed for all living beings on the earth. It is inevitable, and so are the problems related to aging. However, taking good care of your health by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, being physically fit, and giving an adequate amount of rest to the body in terms of food and sleep makes the hormones in the body work better, which in turn reduces the effect of ageing on the organs of the body. 

Eyes, being the important part of our body, need special attention when are not in a healthy condition. Not to forget, certain eye-related condition can be a heavy affair on your pocket considering the ever-soaring healthcare expenses. Thankfully, eye treatments like cataract are covered by health insurance policies under OPD or base cover like Care Senior Health Advantage policy.  For more information about the plan, you can allow our experts to get in touch with you. 

>> Also Read: 10 Simple Ways to Take Care of Your Eyes

Disclaimers: 

1. The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.

2. All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.