The Risk of Many Eye Diseases Increases with Age
September is Healthy Aging Month. Check out this vision fact about aging eyes:
One in six Americans age 65 and older have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
We know that the risk of eye disease increases with age, yet many seniors neglect to see an eye doctor for care. To bring attention to the importance of taking care of our eyes as we age, Carter Eye Center is partnering with the American Academy of Ophthalmology to celebrate Healthy Aging Month. The goal is to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss and steps to help seniors take care of their sight.
What Vision Conditions are Age-Related?
Presbyopia:
Something strange starts happening when you reach your 40s and 50s. Suddenly, you can’t see print as well as you used to. Even if you’ve never needed glasses before, you might find that you suddenly struggle to read the text on your phone, your book or computer screen, a menu, food labels. It is about this time that many people begin to have to purchase store-bought reading glasses. This vision condition is common and is called Presbyopia or Over-40 Vision. Thankfully, the vision experts at Carter Eye Center are equipped with solutions (beyond reading glasses!) for your over-40 vision challenges.
Cataracts
Millions of Americans currently live with cataracts, and many more will develop them by the age of 65. If you have a cataract, it’s due to proteins in the lens of the eye clumping together, causing blurry vision. These proteins can take a long time to clump together, but cataracts will eventually lead to vision loss, along with other symptoms. If you do have cataracts, you may wonder if there are treatment options. At Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Dr. Harvey Carter performs laser cataract surgery with LifeStyle Lenses, helping patients see clearly.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a genetic disease associated with aging, where the central portion of the retina (called the macula) deteriorates. AMD is also one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. It affects your central vision and has a negative impact on everyday activities, such as driving, reading and recognizing faces. Millions of people are diagnosed with AMD each year; a visit with a board-certified ophthalmologist like Dr. Carter is the right place to start if you are concerned about this condition. He can help you find a retina specialist to guide you through managing this sight-stealing condition.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a common eye disease associated with diabetes and is considered a leading cause of blindness in American adults. If you have diabetes, please work closely with the Carter Eye Center diabetic retina eye doctors to monitor and treat this disease. Daily blood sugar monitoring can have a major impact on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve in the back of your eye. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye and more often occurs in patients over the age of 60 (over 40 if Hispanic or African American). The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not even notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
Let Carter Eye Center Help Your Eyes Age Gracefully
Pro tip: don’t skip your annual sight-saving exam! Annual comprehensive eye exams are critical as they can reveal hidden signs of disease, allowing for more timely treatment. This is why we recommend that adults have them annually or more often as recommended by their ophthalmologist, a physician who specializes in medical and surgical eye care.
“Vision loss is even more tragic when it is preventable.
As you age, it is so important to have a yearly comprehensive eye exam.”
Harvey Carter, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Carter Eye Center
At Carter Eye Center, we want all of our patients to enjoy a high quality of life in every season, and that includes your golden years! Dr. Carter has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of many age-related eye conditions. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today to make sure your eyes are healthy for a lifetime.
