SPECIAL SECTION : HEALTHY LIVING
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 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 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 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 cause either partial or full hearing loss , but there are ways to treat hearing loss . Treatment can include surgical procedures , hearing aids , or cochlear implants .
Preventive measures can also be taken to protect against noiseinduced hearing loss and to avoid age-related hearing loss . Be sure to wear protective earmuffs if you work in a loud environment or if
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