SPECIAL SECTION: HEALTHY LIVING
important to know your family’s eye health history as well, since some
conditions are hereditary. Some of the most common eye diseases
include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related
macular degeneration (AMD).
Diabetic Retinopathy: This type 1 or type 2 diabetic
complication is caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina,
the light-sensitive tissues in the back of the eye. If left untreated,
diabetic retinopathy could cause blindness. Early stages of this
condition may go unnoticed if an eye care professional is not
visited yearly. As the condition progresses, symptoms may
include blurred vision, impaired color vision, floaters, and/or
dark areas in your vision. Symptoms may occur if there is too
much sugar in your blood, which can cause a blockage in the
blood vessels that lead to the retina. Proper management of
diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss.
u Glaucoma: The second leading cause of blindness, glaucoma is
a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve. The risk of
developing glaucoma increases with age and if parents or siblings
have the disease. During an eye exam, glaucoma can be detected
by measuring eye pressure, inspecting the drainage angle of the
eye, evaluating the health of the optic nerve and testing the visual
field of each eye. Depending on the type and severity of the
disease, glaucoma can be treated through eye drops, medication
or surgery.
u Cataracts: A cataract affects vision by clouding the lens of the
eye. Chances of cataracts increase greatly with age, with more
than half of all Americans either having a cataract or having had
cataract surgery by the age of 80. People in their 40s and 50s
u
can have cataracts, but they are typically small and do not affect
vision. Cataracts are 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.
u 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
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