While people of all ages can experience eye diseases, the odds of it happening in elderly people are much greater. Many of the eye diseases begin without many symptoms, making it easy for them to be overlooked as nothing significant. However, with annual eye exams, an eye doctor can spot the warning signs and start treatments before the diseases progress too far. Family caregivers that are managing the elderly care of their relative need to make eye exams a priority.<\/p>\n
Here are 5 eye diseases that are common in elderly people:<\/p>\n
1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration<\/strong> 2. Glaucoma<\/strong> 3. Diabetic Retinopathy<\/strong>
\nThis is an eye disease that can lead to blurred vision or even blindness. It affects the macula in the retina, which is the part of the eye that is responsible for the sharpest focus. It can appear in one or both eyes, and is most likely to develop in people over 60 years old. Those with high blood pressure and a history of smoking are at the highest risk.<\/p>\n
\nWhen pressure inside the eyes is too high, it can cause damage to the optic nerve. Known as glaucoma, the condition can appear in one or both eyes and is a major cause of blindness in seniors when it is not treated. Medicine can help slow the progression and eventually surgery will be needed. Glaucoma can\u2019t really be detected in the early stages outside of a professional eye exam, so it\u2018s important that eye doctors do an eye pressure test regularly.<\/p>\n
\nThe effects of diabetes can even reach the eyes as high blood sugar affects the small blood vessels located in the retinas. As the blood vessels are affected, an elderly person\u2019s vision gets worse. Diabetic retinopathy can start out as mild vision issues and quickly advance when not treated. It can lead to blurred vision, loss of central vision, floaters and eventually blindness. While there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, proper management of diabetes plus medicine and a healthy diet can slow down the disease.<\/p>\n