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The Ageing Eye and When to See Eye Doctors by Kate Dawson
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The Ageing Eye and When to See Eye Doctors |
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Health,Fitness
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Common eye problems noted by the older age group include difficulty seeing objects that are close up, decreased perception of colour intensity, difficulty seeing in the dark, needing more light to see properly, and increased sensitivity to glare especially when driving. Like the rest of the human body parts, the eye also goes through changes through time. But not all vision problems in the older age group can be simply dismissed as part of ageing. The major causes of vision loss are the age related eye diseases. The eye is often taken for granted. Although it is only about an inch in diameter, it is a very complex part of the human body. It is composed of several parts that work together to perceive light and interpret these as images in the brain. When one or more eye parts are diseased, vision can be considerably distorted, blurry, or in worse cases, it can lead to permanent blindness. One should see an eye doctor immediately in cases of eye pain that is unusually severe. Surface eye pain is usually characterised by itching or burning and usually means a foreign object in the eye or an eye infection. Severe eye pain and throbbing, especially when it comes with any degree of vision loss can mean a serious medical eye condition that must be seen immediately by a physician. If the eye is too painful to touch, it can mean a lot of things. Iritis or uveitis is the inflammation of the iris or the coloured part of the eye that causes deep eye pain. It can be due to an infection or trauma. With proper treatment, it can be resolved within a few days although relapses can occur. Without treatment, the inflammation can persist and may cause permanent vision damage. Optic neuritis also causes pain when moving or touching the eye. Although the cause is unknown, this requires urgent medical intervention because the sudden nerve inflammation can lead to loss of vision over the course of a few hours. Whatever the cause, vision changes need to be seen by an eye doctor immediately. All of the signs like blurred vision, halos around lights, dimness of vision, and blind spots should be consulted as soon as possible. More serious reasons can be behind these symptoms like glaucoma, which is an increased pressure in the eye that is a major cause of blindness. Macular degeneration or loss of central vision is the most common cause of total vision loss in people over the age of 60. Seeing flashes of light or having a perception of a shade or curtain hanging on one side of the visual field can mean retinal detachment. This is a medical emergency and the longer it remains untreated, the greater the risk of permanent loss of vision. Eye pain that is occurs with nausea, vomiting, headache and decreased vision can mean acute angle closure glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye condition that is characterised by increase in eye pressure over time and at times with no early symptoms. However, when the exit of the fluid in the eye is suddenly blocked, it causes a quick and painful rise in eye pressure called angle closure glaucoma. The headache that accompanies glaucoma can be mild or severe with accompanying nausea and vomiting. People over the age of 60 and those with a family history of glaucoma are at greater risk of developing this eye condition. Again, this needs immediate treatment. The ageing eye is also prone to develop cataracts. These cause cloudiness in vision from protein clumps in the eye that cloud a small area of the lens. This is most commonly seen in the older age group and over time, the clumps cloud more and more of the eye lens, making it very difficult to see clearly. To restore vision, the eye cataracts should be removed through surgery. The clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens and this is a common procedure done in the older age group. Only eye doctors can diagnose eye diseases so at the first sign of vision problem, make an appointment right away. A simple test can mean the difference between healthy clear eyesight and vision loss. A professional can easily diagnose and provide the correct eye treatment needed. For the elderly population, a yearly eye examination is essential, whether one has visible signs of eye disease or not.
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Eye doctors, eye treatment, eye cataracts,
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