SPECIAL SECTION: HEALTHY LIVING
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 mo