August is Eye Care Month so it is a good time to talk about eyes, the most common forms of eye disease and how to detect and treat them. Ignoring eye health often results in limited vision and blindness. Preventive measures and treatment can keep vision intact. The most common vision problems are macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in persons over 60 years of age. The macula is located within the eye in the center of the retina. In the dry form (the most common kind) the light sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in that eye. Over time central vision is lost. It begins with slightly blurred vision and can progress to total loss of central vision. Risk factors for the development of macular degeneration include: age, smoking history, being Caucasian, family history of macular degeneration, and being female. Tests done to detect macular degeneration include visual acuity test (eye chart), tonometry to measure eye pressure and a dilated eye exam to examine the retina and macula closely. Treatment varies according to how advanced the disease is. There is probable benefit to taking an ARENDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) vitamin formula. Ask your family physician or eye doctor if these vitamins are right for you. To reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration it is recommended that you: Eat a healthy diet high in green leafy vegetables, DON’T SMOKE, maintain a normal blood pressure, watch your weight, take a ARENDS formula vitamin, and my favorite…exercise.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts are usually related to aging. By the age of 80, more than half of all Americans have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. The lens of the eye helps to focus light on the retina. If the lens is cloudy as a result of a cataract, the image becomes blurred. Risk for cataracts increases with certain diseases, such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol use and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. The symptoms of a cataract are cloudy or blurred vision, faded color vision, glare from bright lights, halos appearing around lights, double vision and frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses.
Wearing sunglasses and a hat to block ultraviolet sunlight may delay the development of cataracts. A dilated eye exam should be done at least every two years after the age of 60. Treatment of cataracts usually includes surgery to remove the clouded lens and implanting a replacement lens. Surgical procedures have improved over the years to the point that this surgery is usually an outpatient procedure with minimal recovery time.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause the pressure inside the eye to slowly rise. Vision loss can occur if the condition is not diagnosed and treated. Anyone can develop glaucoma. There is a higher risk for glaucoma if the individual is an African American over the age of 40, a Mexican American over the age of 60 and/or someone with a family history of glaucoma. A visual acuity test, tonometry test and a dilated eye exam are used to check for glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, develops slowly with few symptoms. As it advances side vision may be affected. Treatment can include eye drops or surgery to lower the pressure. A rare form of glaucoma, angle closure
glaucoma, is a medical emergencySymptoms include severe pain, nausea, eye redness and blurred vision. Immediate treatment is necessary to lower the pressure and preserve vision.
Diabetic eye disease refers to a number of eye problems that people with diabetes may develop. Diabetics are more likely to develop cataracts and glaucoma than the general population and at a younger age. Specifically associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This is a condition where the blood vessels in the retina become weak and leak fluid into the eye. Often new vessels develop to try to increase the blood supply to the eye. These vessels are weak and often bleed into the eye. There may be no symptoms of diabetic retinopathy in the beginning. It is important that a person with diabetes have a dilated eye exam yearly to determine if retinopathy is present. Preventing vision loss is much easier than preventing FURTHER vision loss when symptoms develop. The best way to PREVENT diabetic retinopathy is to control diabetes and keep the blood sugar close to a normal range. In adults it is recommended that the HbA1c, a blood test that gives a 3-month blood sugar average, be less than 7. Some recommend that the HbA1c be 6.5.
Regardless of your eye condition or family history, it is recommended that adults get a dilated eye exam every two years, or more often if risks for developing an eye problem are present. If you are reading this article you have eyes. These must be protected! Take care of your eyes!
