When we think of active aging most of us think about exercise and eating right. But what may be overlooked is taking care of your vision which is an extremely important part of active aging.
Cataracts and glaucoma are two of the main causes of vision loss among adults 65+. The progression of these diseases can take away your ability to do everyday activities.
Seniors are more susceptible to falls and accidents and may be unable to drive, read, or watch TV. Loss of these daily activities may cause depression, withdrawal, even anger.
Seniors often experience signs of these diseases years before they are diagnosed. Symptoms such as blurry vision, inability to see in dim lighting, and trouble driving are seen as a “normal” part of the aging process but could be indicators of cataract and glaucoma progression.
The best way to prevent this is by getting an annual eye exam. Your local optometrist can accurately diagnose whether you have cataracts or glaucoma and refer you to a specialist if needed. It is especially important adults 55+ have annual eye exams because cataract can grow unnoticed and quickly become vision-impairing. Individuals only begin to experience symptoms when the growth is in their field of vision, but catching the growth prior to this stage can be advantageous.
Glaucoma affects the visual field and is not noticed until advanced stages as well. Be aware this disease can be genetic, so tell your optometrist if your mother or father suffered from glaucoma. Your doctor can then perform tests and give you advice on treatment.
Treatment for cataracts and glaucoma is a quick ocular surgery, which takes less than 30 minutes. Many seniors are revitalized after their procedure and rediscover activities they were unable to do before like golfing, swimming and reading. So take care of your vision and see your eye doctor…seeing is believing!
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