The Eye Health Warning Signs Seniors Need to Know

Cataracts and retinal tears are two of the most pressing eye concerns facing many seniors. While cataracts develop over a longer period of time, retinal tears can be sudden and do permanent damage to your vision. As we celebrate Healthy Vision Month this July, it’s important to take time to learn the signs of eye issues so that you can act quickly and get the care that you need.

What Are the Warning Signs of Cataracts?

Cataracts occur when there is clouding on the clear lens of your eye. Because of this cloudiness, it can be more difficult to read or drive. Cataracts typically develop slowly over time, so you might not notice changes to your vision for a while.
The symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy, blurred or dim vision
• Light sensitivity
• Trouble seeing at night
• Needing progressively brighter light for reading, solving puzzles, doing crosswords or other activities
• Seeing a halo around objects
• Yellowing of colors
• Double vision in one eye
• Frequent changes in glasses prescription

How Are Cataracts Treated?

One of the best solutions to cataracts is cataract surgery. They typically do not harm your eye outside of impacting your vision, so they are not an urgent issue. Until you have surgery, make sure that you update your glasses prescription as needed. Use brighter lamps and use a magnifying lens to read if needed.

What Are the Warning Signs of Retinal Tears or Detachment?

The retina is the inner lining of the eye, and it is the part of your eye that allows you to see thanks to the light-sensitive tissue. When you have a retinal tear from trauma or natural causes, it can lead to a retinal detachment that involves permanent vision loss. When you think that you have experienced a tear or detachment, it’s important to seek emergency ophthalmological assistance to avoid temporary or permanent vision loss.
Some of the symptoms of tears and detachment include:

• Sudden floaters or black spots in your vision
• Flashes of light in one or both of your eyes
• Slowly decreasing peripheral vision
• Blurry vision
• A curtain-like shadow over your field of vision

How Are Retinal Tears or Detachment Treated?

Your eye doctor can determine the right treatment for your situation, which might include laser surgery to prevent detachment or freezing treatment that also secures the retina to the eye wall.

Care for Your Senior Loved Ones with Senior Care Lifestyles

Senior Care Lifestyles specializes in connecting seniors with the right in-home care, assisted living, or senior living community to meet their needs. We have helped hundreds of clients and treat each senior as a valued member of our own family deserving our personalized attention, compassion and respect.

For help, or questions please call us at 410-977-3718 or send a message through our website www.seniorcarelifestyles.com.