It’s Older Americans Month as well as Healthy Vision Month. This year’s Healthy Vision Month focus is on protecting vision together as a family and finding out about resources for access to eye care.
Dr. Sefy Paulose recently updated our eye conditions section to prepare for Healthy Vision Month. Dr. Paulose will present a webinar to discuss age-related eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Understanding your eye condition is critical to managing your vision changes. For example, certain eye conditions require ongoing use of eye drops. Others may require injections or laser treatment. Some may cause central vision loss, while others cause peripheral vision problems.
Please invite your family members to attend the upcoming webinar discussing age-related eye conditions; make it a “family affair,” as family can be a support as you manage your eye condition.
Cataract
Cataracts, the clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide. There are various types; some cause an overall blurring of vision, and others may cause glare or a halo effect around lights. These symptoms can make reading, walking safely, driving, watching TV, etc., difficult. Cataract surgery treatment includes phacoemulsification, the most common surgical method used to remove cataracts.
AMD is the deterioration of the macula, a small area in the retina’s center that allows us to see details and contrast sensitivity. This disease is the leading cause of vision loss in the USA for people over 50. Depending on the type of AMD, various treatment options are available such as vitamins, modifiable risk factors, and/or injections which may slow the progression or prevent the worsening of AMD.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can lead to irreversible blindness by damaging the optic nerve, a cable that connects our eye to our brain. Often, glaucoma is called the “sneaky thief” of sight as symptoms or early warning signs of glaucoma tend to be hard to detect. Treatment of glaucoma revolves around various methods of lowering eye pressure through drops, pills, laser procedures, and/or surgeries.
Learn more about Glaucoma and about dealing with severe vision loss from glaucoma.
Diabetic Retinopathy
The leading cause of new blindness and low vision in adults aged 20-65 is caused by diabetic retinopathy and damage to the retina caused by uncontrolled blood sugars in patients with diabetes. Symptoms can be subtle initially, and diagnosis is typically found during comprehensive eye exams. Control of your diabetes is paramount to the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Other treatment modalities include injections, lasers, or surgeries.
Learn more about diabetic eye disease and coping with diabetes and vision loss.
Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when tears do not keep the cornea sufficiently hydrated. It can result in decreased vision, irritation, redness, and pain and is an often unrecognized, unattended part of aging. Dry eye treatment ranges from eyedrops to punctual plugs and/or surgeries.
Read more about other dry eye treatments.
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