| As we enter our forties, many things become simpler | | | | the fluid level inside the eye rises to above normal |
| (like doing our taxes, finishing a good book, and eating | | | | levels, you are said to have Glaucoma. |
| in restaurants alone). But some things get more difficult | | | | Who it affects: It affects both men and women, |
| - like reading the newspaper and seeing street signs. | | | | primarily those with a family history of glaucoma, those |
| Where once you could hold a book comfortably in | | | | of African American ancestry, diabetics and anyone |
| your lap while reading, now your arms aren't quite long | | | | over the age of 60. |
| enough to hold it the right distance from your face. | | | | Symptoms: Eye pressure; decreased peripheral vision. |
| Where once you could sit in front of a computer | | | | Eventual outcome: If left untreated, Glaucoma can |
| screen for hours reading and typing, now you need to | | | | result in complete loss of peripheral vision, and |
| take a walk to rest your burning eyes. | | | | blindness |
| Your vision has changed. And you're not alone. In 2004 | | | | Macular Degeneration -- More than 1.6 million |
| The Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group | | | | Americans over age 60 have advanced macular |
| estimated that 1 in 28 Americans 40 years and older is | | | | degeneration. |
| affected by "low vision1" (impaired vision caused by | | | | What it is: Macular Degeneration is an age-related |
| age, eye disease or stroke). | | | | disease that causes progressive damage to the |
| Forty isn't really a magic number (eye disease can | | | | macula. The macula is at the center of the eye's retina; |
| affect us at any age), but it is the beginning of a time in | | | | it enables us to see fine details. |
| life when our vision can and more-than-likely will | | | | Who it affects: Macular Degeneration affects both |
| change. Your friends and family will call it | | | | men and women, usually 60 years old or more. It is |
| farsightedness, and for the most part, it's nothing to | | | | less common in African Americans than in Caucasians. |
| worry about. Nothing a cheap pair of reading glasses | | | | Symptoms: Blurriness or darkness in the center of |
| from your local AM/PM won't cure, right? | | | | ones vision; peripheral vision remains intact. Central |
| Well, consider this. . . . | | | | vision is the portion of our eye sight that enables us to |
| Between 2000 and 2020, the prevalence of blindness | | | | see fine shapes and lines. It is needed for reading, |
| in Americans is expected to double. | | | | driving and recognizing faces. |
| The number of Americans with age-related eye | | | | Eventual outcome: If left untreated, Macular |
| disease is expected to double within the next three | | | | Degeneration leads to loss of central vision altogether, |
| decades. | | | | leaving the person unable to perform many of life's |
| That means that for some, a change in vision is a | | | | normal activities. |
| signal that something more serious is happening. And | | | | Diabetic Retinopathy -- Diabetic retinopathy affects |
| the best advice I can give you is to practice proper | | | | more than 5.3 million Americans age 18 and older. |
| eye care and see your optometrist at least once a | | | | What it is: Diabetic Retinopathy is a fairly common |
| year. If you're like most people I know, though, you | | | | complication of diabetes. It is a leading cause of |
| won't go to the doctor as often as you should or until | | | | blindness in American adults. |
| you have an idea of what is wrong. If that's you, the | | | | Who it affects: Both men and women with diabetes; |
| information below about some of the most common | | | | most common among people 40 years and older. Prior |
| eye diseases may be helpful. | | | | to age 40, diabetic retinopathy affects Caucasians |
| Cataracts -- Affects nearly 20.5 million Americans age | | | | more frequently than other races. After age 40, |
| 65 and older. | | | | Hispanics have a higher incidence than others. |
| What it is: A Cataract looks like clouding on the | | | | Symptoms: Swollen blood vessels in the eyes; fluid |
| surface of the eye. But actually it is a clouding inside | | | | leaking from the eye; abnormal growth of new blood |
| the bag of fluid that houses the lens of the eye. When | | | | vessels on the surface of the eye. You may or may |
| old cells die, they collect inside this bag and cause | | | | not notice change in vision, at first. But over time, |
| clouding and blurred vision. | | | | diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision |
| Who it affects: Both men and women 55 and older. | | | | loss. |
| Symptoms: Cloudy, blurry vision; colors appear faded; | | | | Eventual outcome: If left untreated, Diabetic |
| lights seem too bright and often appear to have a halo | | | | Retinopathy can cause severe vision loss, and in 8 |
| around them; poor vision at night; double vision; frequent | | | | percent of diabetics, it can lead to blindness in one or |
| prescription changes. | | | | both eyes. |
| Eventual outcome: Without proper eye care treatment, | | | | Now that you've seen some of the symptoms and |
| complete color blindness and severely blurred vision | | | | probable outcomes of untreated, age-related eye |
| are the eventual outcomes. | | | | disease, I hope you agree that early identification and |
| Glaucoma -- About 2.2 million Americans have been | | | | treatment are the best ways to prevent the most |
| diagnosed with glaucoma, and another 2 million do not | | | | devastating affects of eye disease. Don't become a |
| know they have it. | | | | statistic. Make an appointment with your eye care |
| What it is: Glaucoma is a group of diseases (rather | | | | specialist once a year, and keep your vision as clear |
| than a single disease) that damages the optic nerve | | | | and sound as possible. |
| and can result in loss of vision or even blindness. When | | | | |