Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause
of irreversible severe central vision loss in Caucasians 50 years
and older in the United States.
AMD is a common eye disease associated with aging that gradually
destroys sharp, central vision.
The progression of AMD can be slow or rapid, but the deterioration
of central vision generally occurs over a period of a few years. If
you experience the following, see your eye doctor:
- Straight lines appear wavy
- Difficulty seeing at a distance
- Decreased ability to distinguish colors
- Inability to see details, such as faces or words in a book
- Dark or empty spots block your center of vision
Although it's not certain what causes macular degeneration, several
studied have shown the following individuals may be at risk:
- Individuals over the age of 60
- People that suffer from hypertension
- Individuals that smoke
- Postmenopausal women
- Individuals with a family history of AMD
Laser treatment can sometimes treat the "wet" form of macular
degeneration (the rarer, but more severe form). However, there is
no proven, effective treatment yet for the "dry" form (the most
common form). But with both, low vision rehabilitation can help those
with significant vision loss to maintain an excellent quality of life.
As always, early detection is your best defense against losing vision.
So if you are at risk, see your eye doctor for a complete eye exam at
least every one to two years.
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Cataract
Almost 13 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts.
Cataracts are the clouding of the eye's lens, like a window that
is "fogged" with steam. They are not a growth or a film. When the lens
becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily and vision
becomes blurry.
Cataracts start out small and have little effect on vision at first.
But as the cataract grows, it clouds more of the lens. See your Eye M.D.
if you experience:
- Painless blurring of vision
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Double vision in one eye
- Poor night vision
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions
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Although cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process,
they can also result from:
- Eye injuries
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes
- Medications, such as steroids
- Genetic inheritance
- Frequent, unprotected exposure to UV-A and UV-B rays
Currently, there are no medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses
that will cause cataracts to disappear. And if cataracts don't interfere
with your life, you may decide not to do anything about them.
When they do interfere with daily activities, they can be treated
surgically. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery
in the United States with most patients regaining useful vision.
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Diabetic Eye Disease
Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes. And half are at
risk for vision loss because they don't know they have the disease.
Diabetic eye disease, a group of eye problems that affect those
with diabetes, includes diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.
The most common of these is diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially vision threatening condition
in which the blood vessels inside the retina become damaged from the
high blood sugar leges associated with diabetes.
Because there are often no symptoms in the early stages of
diabetic retinopathy, your vision may not be affected until the
disease becomes severe. You should see your Eye M.D. promptly if
you experience visual changes that:
- Affect only one eye
- Last more than a few days
- Are not associated with a change in blood sugar
Diabetes can also affect your vision by causing
cataracts and glaucoma.
If you have diabetes, you are likely to get cataracts at a younger age
and your chances of developing glaucoma are doubled.
More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes don't get
recommended vision care and may be at risk for blindness. Once
diagnosed with diabetes, schedule a complete dilated eye examination at
least once a year.
Early diagnosis of diabetes and the effective control of blood sugar
levels and hypertension through diet and exercise can help control eye
diseases associated with diabetes.
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Eye Injury Prevention
More than one million people suffer from eye injuries each year
in the United States, but 90% of them could have been prevented.
With children...
Pay attention to their age and maturity level
when buying toys and games. Avoid projectile toys such as bows and
arrows, darts and pellet guns. And make sure that children have
protective eyewear when playing on the field, in the yard or on the
court.
In the house...
When using household chemicals, read
instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area
and make sure to point spray nozzles away from you. Many chemicals
are extremely hazardous and can burn your eyes' delicate tissues.
In the workshop...
Think about the work you will be
doing and the appropriate eyewear to shield your eyes from the flying
fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks, and splashing chemicals.
Many objects can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause an injury.
In the garden...
Put on protective eyewear before you
use a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger and be sure to check for
rocks and stones because they can become dangerous projectiles as
they shoot from blades.
In the workplace...
Wear appropriate safety eyewear
(with a "Z87" mark on the lens or frame) for your job. Many of the
thousands injured each day didn't think they needed eye protection
or wore eyewear inappropriate for the job.
Around the car...
Battery acid, sparks and debris from
damaged or improperly jumped auto batteries can severely damage your eyes.
Keep protective goggles in the trunk of your car.
Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding
serious eye injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with
appropriate protective eyewear. If you do experience an eye injury,
see your Eye M.D. or physician promptly.
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Glaucoma
Approximately 2.5 million Americans have glaucoma, but one half may be
unaware that they have a potentially blinding disease because they
have no symptoms.
Glaucoma is a condition associated with elevated pressure inside the
eye, which can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.
At first, there are usually no symptoms, but as the disease
progresses a person with glaucoma may notice his or her vision
gradually failing with:
- Blurred vision
- Presence of halos around lights
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Difficulty focusing on objects
Although anyone can develop glaucoma, some people are at higher risk
and need to see an Eye M.D. more often. Those who should have an eye exam
at least every one to two years include:
- African Americans over age 40
- Individuals over age 65
- People with a family history of glaucoma
- Individuals that have experienced a serious eye injury
- People with diabetes (exam every year)
Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early detection and treatment
can usually preserve vision. An Eye M.D. can help control glaucoma
with eye drops, oral medications or surgery. If left untreated,
glaucoma can lead to blindness.
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