HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
detected by blurred vision, faded colors, glare from headlights or
lamps, poor night vision, double vision, or frequent prescription
changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses. Early detection can improve
cataracts through new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses or brighter
lighting. Surgery can also be done to remove the cloudy lens and
replace it with an artificial lens.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): One of the
common but lesser known eye conditions is AMD. A leading cause
of vision loss among people 50 years of age and older, AMD affects
the macula, the millions of light-sensing cells that provide your eye
with sharp, central vision. Age is a major risk factor for developing
AMD, with most cases occurring after the age of 60. Genetics,
race, and smoking can also affect risk for AMD. A comprehensive
eye exam can detect it through dilation and testing. Your eye care
professional will look for yellow deposits beneath the retina to
determine whether you have AMD. Intermediate and late AMD
can be treated with daily intake of vitamins and minerals that can
slow the progression of the disease. Therapy and surgery can also
be considered for types of advanced neovascular AMD, which
typically results in severe vision loss, to stop further progression.
Hearing Loss and Prevention
It is common for hearing loss to occur as you age. According to
the Mayo Clinic, about 25 percent of people in the United States
between the ages of 55 and 64 have some degree of hearing loss,
increasing to one in two people by age 65 and older. Chronic
exposure to loud noises and aging are the two main causes of hearing
loss, resulting in the perception of muffled speech from others,
difficulty understanding words, frequent requests for others to repeat
themselves, loud volume on the television or radio, and avoidance of
social settings.
Hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear, infection
in the ear, or ruptured eardrum. Damage to the inner ear can happen
with age, or constant exposure to loud noises over an extended period
of time. These cause wear on the nerve cells in the cochlea that send
sound to the brain. When they are damaged, signals aren’t transmitted
as effectively, causing loss of hearing. Heredity, aging, occupational
and recreational noises, some medications, and some illnesses may
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