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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 AMD through dilation and
testing. Your eye care professional will look for yellow deposits
beneath the retina to determine if 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 muffled speech
from others, difficulty understanding words, frequently asking 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
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