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Viable Laser Eye Treatment Procedures for Older Adults by Kate Dawson
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Viable Laser Eye Treatment Procedures for Older Adults |
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Health,Science & Technology
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It is a misconception that laser eye treatment is just for the young. Even people over the age of 50 can benefit from laser surgery. Older adults often have symptoms of presbyopia, the inability to focus on near objects. It occurs naturally with ageing, wherein the lens slowly loses its elasticity and becomes noticeable around the age of 45. It is not a disease and it cannot be prevented. It is essentially a normal part of the ageing process and affects all people. The first signs are frequent headaches, eyestrain, and the need to hold reading materials further away in order to properly focus on them. There is no cure for presbyopia. To compensate for blurred near vision, prescription reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals, or contact lenses are used. However, there is a need to constantly change the prescription since the elasticity of the crystalline lens continuously decreases over the years. Expect to be given stronger correction lenses with time. For people who are not comfortable wearing glasses all the time, lens implants can correct presbyopia. This involves removal of the natural lens of the eye and replacing it with artificial lenses. However, some people experience problems with blurring and increased glare with lens implants. Laser assisted eye surgery is another option wherein the incidence of complications is relatively low. Another problem encountered by the ageing population is the development of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Normally, the lens is clear, making it possible to focus light, or an image, onto the light sensitive area of the eye called the retina. With the cloudy lens brought about by cataracts, the image seen is blurred. Eventually, the cataract grows larger and cloud more and more of the lens, making it harder and harder to see clearly. The cloudiness can start to develop by the age of 40 but may be too small that it does not significantly affect vision. After the age of 60, this is when the problem becomes really noticeable. Furthermore, colours may seem faded, headlights may appear too bright, and halos are seen around lights. The initial management for cataracts is prescription lenses, better lighting, or the use of magnifying lenses. The only effective treatment is surgery which involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with synthetic lens. Most people enjoy good eyesight after the operation. Sometimes, blurry vision or increased glare can be experienced even after cataract removal. This is not due to cataracts coming back but rather because of a thickening of the back of the lens capsule. Laser treatment comes in very useful in such cases, used to make a hole in the part of the capsule so that light can again pass freely to the back of the eye. For older adults, another condition that is common is glaucoma. This is an eye disease with typically no early warning signs and by the time vision loss is noticed, glaucoma is usually in the advanced stages. This is the reason why people over the age of 50 should have regular eye examinations. With early detection, timely treatment can be done so that vision can be preserved. Depending on the type of glaucoma, treatment is through medications or surgery. Eye drops and pills may be prescribed to lower the pressure in the eye. Laser surgery has become very important in the treatment of glaucoma. The type of laser surgery varies depending on the nature and severity of the disease. This is practical in older adults since laser surgeries are only minimally invasive and performed in an outpatient setting. There is little or no pain involved and recovery is rapid. When medications and laser surgery fail to lower the eye pressure, conventional or cutting surgery will be considered. Laser eye treatments are popular procedures that correct various eye problems. These are very valuable in the older population because they are highly effective with fast recovery and much less risk of infection compared to traditional surgery. Laser eye treatments can be safely and successfully performed at just about any age, including the above 50 age group. As well as refractive problems like short sightedness, long sightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, laser eye treatment can help treat conditions common in older adults such as glaucoma and cataract . Laser treatment is very useful in correcting these problems and therefore prevents worsening of the eyesight. There are different types of laser eye surgery and eye doctors should be consulted to discuss what would be appropriate for the condition, age, and individual needs.
Related Articles -
laser eye treatment, eye doctors, cataract,
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