Vision Problems In The Elderly | mumbaieyecare

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Vision Problems In The Elderly mumbaieyecare
Introduction The human eye is a specialized
sensory organ. It captures and detects visual
images. It carries visual informationto the
brain. The human eye includes the cornea, pupil,
lens, iris, retina, optic nerves, aqueous and
vitreous humour photoreceptors. The eyes have
several muscles that allow a person to look in
different directions without any head movement.
These muscles operate through various cranial
nerves such as the abducens, the trochlear, and
the oculomotor nerves. Ageing is a slow and
natural process that initiates in early
adulthood. Many functions of the body gradually
decline due to ageing. Increasing in age can lead
to several changes in eyes and their vision. Eye
problems are common during ageing. However,
several measures help in maintaining the optimum
health of the eyes. Why are Seniors more
sensitive to eye problems? Changes that happen in
old age are
It becomes harder to focus on any object for
longtime It is difficult to see in dim light. The
lens becomes yellow or brown. Eyes become dry due
to less production of fluid The number of nerve
cells decreases.
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The ageing process may also affect the production
of tears. There is a decrease in tear production
that is important to provide sufficient moisture
to the eyes. Insufficiency in the amount of
liquid may cause dry eyes. In middle age, the
lens of the eyes becomes less flexible. The
thickness of the lenses reduces, and the ability
to focus on a nearby object is also impaired. It
is known as presbyopia.
Common eye problems in elderly
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Increasing age interfere with several body
functions. It may cause various eye problems.
These are presbyopia, dry eyes, cataract,
glaucoma, conjunctivitis, eyelid problems, and
retinal disorders. Retinal disorders include
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Diabetic
Retinopathy, and Retinal detachment. Presbyopia
It is a condition in which the eye lens becomes
less flexible, less thick cause difficulty to
focus on nearby objects. Dry eyes The condition
occurs when tear production is less. It leads to
severe dryness in the eyes. Cataract Human eye
has lenses to focus on the object. These lenses
made up of proteins. Protein molecules of the
lenses form clusters and cause blurred vision.
The condition is known as a cataract. A cataract
develops in the elderly. Replacing lenses with
artificial lenses is the cataract
treatment. Glaucoma Glaucoma occurs when the
pressure of fluid within the eyes increases. It
can damage the optic nerve. Loss of vision is a
slow process in glaucoma. The use of eye drops
to treat glaucoma is effective, but sometimes eye
surgery becomes necessary. Retinal disorders
Retinal disorders become the reason behind most
blindness cases in the present time. The retina
is the back lining of the eyes having many cells
responsible for the visualization of images. The
cells also have the function is to transfer
images to the brain. Retinal disorders interfere
with the functioning of cells during the transfer
of visuals to the brain.
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
Macula is a central region of the retina having
many light-sensitive cells. The function of the
macula is facial recognition and reading. It may
cause vision loss but does notresponsible for
total blindness. Diabetic retinopathy It is a
complication that occurs due to diabetes in which
the supply of oxygen to the retina becomes
impaired. It results in many vision
problems.Laser treatment is usually a preferred
treatment to prevent vision loss.
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Conjunctivitis The inflammation of the
transparent covering of the eyeball is known as
conjunctivitis. The eye appears pink in this
condition. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics
or antiallergics to manage the symptoms of this
disease.
Prevention
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The elderly may prevent or delay the occurrence
or slow down the eye problems through the
following measures
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The routine ocular examination by a
doctor Treatment of many eye problems possible if
they found early. You need to visit your
ophthalmologist and test your eyesight for
glaucoma or cataract. People who have a family
history of eye disease and diabetes need to
examine pupil dilation at least once a year to
prevent eye problems. If you experience a sudden
loss of vision, blurred vision, redness,
swelling, teary eyes and pain, consult with an
ophthalmologist.
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Conclusion Ocular diseases may occur at any age.
However, the elderly are at increased risk for
developing various eye diseases. It is due to
ageing and reducing the functioning of several
tissues. However, it is simple to maintain good
eye health by regular eye examinations and keep
your body healthy. Diet also plays a significant
role in maintaining healthy eyes. Severe eye
conditions may treat by surgeries.