Eye Care for Seniors: Great Vision in the Golden Years

As you get older, you are bound to face more challenges with regard to your eye health and overall vision quality. This is to be expected, and it’s all a natural part of the aging process. Thankfully, the people of Jacksonville can turn to the team at Maida Custom Vision to address their eye care and vision correction needs.

Let’s consider some of the common vision problems that elderly patients experience and what can be done to address these problems as they arise.

Presbyopia: Age-Related Farsightedness

Presbyopia refers to a natural form of farsightedness that occurs starting around the mid-40s. The condition often occurs due to the loss of flexibility in the lens of the eye. Presbyopia is unavoidable. As patients get older, the more likely they are to suffer from presbyopia, or the more pronounced the condition will become.

There are many different treatment options for presbyopia. Many people tend to wear bifocals or use multiple pairs of glasses to address their vision problems. Other patients may undergo a monovision LASIK procedure, which corrects one eye for distance vision and the other for close vision to ensure optimal vision at all distances. Corneal inlays are also available for some patients, working on a principle similar to monovision LASIK.

Cataracts: Cloudy Vision

Cataracts refer to the clouding of the lenses of the eyes. This can be caused by injuries to the eye or excessive exposure to UV rays among many other things. As people get older, they are more likely to experience cataracts as a result of long-term wear and tear of the eyes. When cataracts form, vision tends to be blurrier and hazier.

When it comes to treating cataracts, the most common option is the removal of the clouded lens of the eye, often followed by the placement of an artificial lens. Traditional corrective lenses may also be used after the cataract removal surgery.

Glaucoma: Permanent Vision Loss

Glaucoma is a type of permanent vision loss that is caused by an increase in pressure within the eye. When glaucoma occurs, it leads to damage of the optic nerve. There are many different causes of glaucoma, including previous eye injuries and genetic predispositions based on family history. Advanced age is a major risk factor for glaucoma.

The effects of glaucoma cannot be undone, so treatments instead focus on ways to slow down or limit the loss of vision. There are multiple methods of accomplishing this, from the use of medications to special surgical procedures.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Central Vision Loss

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD or AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in American who are age 65 or older. The macula is the portion of the retina responsible for central vision. When wet AMD occurs, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula; when dry AMD occurs, the light-sensitive cells in the macula break down.

The best treatment for macular degeneration will depend on the type (wet or dry) a patient experiences. In cases of wet AMD, anti-angiogenic medications can halt the development of new blood vessels. Laser therapy is also ideal for serious cases of central vision loss caused by AMD.

Learn More About Great Vision During Old Age

For more information about your vision care needs during advanced age, it’s important that you contact our advanced eye care center today. During a consultation with Dr. Jerry Maida and his team, we will be sure to go over your treatment options and other concerns in greater detail.