The Importance of Preventative Eye Care As We Age

As we all get older, it is completely normal to notice changes in your body – including your vision. Whether it is the gradual loss of your ability to see things up close or trouble distinguishing subtle color differences, like those between brown and black, there are numerous ways to correct these problems and prevent new ones. Why is preventative eye care so important as we age?

Why Is Preventative Eye Care Important?

While many signs of aging in our eyes are harmless, other than the fact that you cannot see quite as sharply as you used to, some of them do represent more serious problems with your overall health. For example, your eyes leaking tears could just be an issue due to light sensitivity or wind. However, it can also indicate a blocked tear duct or an eye infection.

Additionally, many of the earliest symptoms of various eye diseases will not be apparent to you. Detecting them at your eye exam when your eyes are dilated is the best way to address them promptly. Some of the diseases that can be prevented or treated when they are detected early include:

• Cataracts, which are currently the leading cause of vision loss in the country
• Glaucoma, which is a disease that can damage your optic nerve
• Macular degeneration due to age
• Diabetic retinopathy, which is currently the leading cause of blindness in adults
• Retinal disorders
• Corneal disease

How Can You Keep Your Eyes Healthy?

Work with an ophthalmologist or optometrist to have an annual eye exam. During this exam, they will be able to take a close look at your eyes and spot any signs of potential problems and current issues. A variety of tests will be performed that are designed to measure eye alignment, depth perception, visual acuity, eye movement, and more. During your appointment, you will also have the opportunity to ask any questions that you have.

In some cases, you should immediately make an eye doctor appointment even if you have seen them recently. If your symptoms include anything listed below, do not wait:

• Eye pain
• Double vision
• Decreased vision
• Eye redness
• Floaters that appear suddenly
• Halos around lights
• Flashes of light 

Keep Your Eyes Healthy 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.