Older adults are prone to more eye diseases that cause vision loss, but vision loss is NOT a normal part of aging. September is healthy aging month so here’s the facts about vision loss…
Vision Loss Eye Diseases
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Cataract
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Dry eye
- Low vision
These eye diseases have no early symptoms but they can be detected during regular comprehensive dilated eye exams.
The Numbers
Over 40 million Americans are age 65 or older and this number is expected to grow to more than million by 2050. And by the same year, American’s with age-related eye diseases are expected to double and those with low-vision are expected to triple!
Early Detection
According to WebMD, in order “to catch eye conditions early and help prevent vision loss, you should get a baseline eye exam when you are 40. If you are at high risk for an eye problem, yearly visits are recommended. If there are no issues, you should then see your doctor every 2 to 4 years until you are 54. Afterwards, visits should be more frequent – every 1 to three 3 years. By the time you reach 65, consider visits every 1 to 2 years.”
As always, see your eye doctor regularly and if you experience changes, pain or injury, seek medical attention immediately.
For more helpful eye care and vision care tips, please visit our main blog page.
Sources: nei.nih.gov/ and webmd.com
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
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