Eyes Over 40: Baby Boomers
Around the age of 40, many people begin to experience vision issues that are directly related to aging. The most common of these is presbyopia(farsightedness). Other vision issues that can occur with aging, however, are more serious and can result in permanent blindness if they are not properly treated.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia, or farsightedness, is the reduced ability for your eyes to focus clearly on objects close to you. That focusing of the eye is performed by the lens, a crystalline structure within the eyeball. Muscles around the eye cause the lens to change shape when a different focus is needed.
As you grow older, the substance that makes up the lens becomes stiffer and less able to quickly respond to the signals provided by the muscles that control focus.
The muscles also become less flexible. Combined, these occurrences reduce the ability to focus on close work such as reading, computer work or needlework.Though this condition progresses through earlier years, it usually becomes noticeable by your mid-40s. Many people aged 40 or older find they are having difficulty focusing at close range, and purchase reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals or corrective lenses to improve their vision.
Other Age-Related Eye Issues
In our late 40s and early 50s, risk increases for other age-related eye problems. These can include:
- Macular degeneration
- Loss of color vision
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Dry eye syndrome
Because some of these eye problems can threaten your vision, it is important to see your ophthalmologist on a regular basis to monitor the condition of your eyes.
Glaucoma and macular degeneration usually progress slowly, so regular visits to the eye doctor can make it easier to see signs of these problems early. Early vision problem detection can help ensure proper treatment in order to reduce the possibility of vision loss. In addition, if you experience any strange or sudden symptoms, abrupt changes in your vision, or loss of vision, see your eye doctor immediately.How Vision Changes with Age
Age takes a toll on your body, and your eyes are no exception. As you get older, the lenses of your eyes becomes less flexible. The result, a condition called presbyopia (farsightedness), is characterized by greater difficulty focusing at close range. Readers approaching 40 often discover they must hold books farther away from their eyes to focus on the print. Computer work and other close-range activities also suffer.
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Although these changes take place over a period of time, most people do not find it inconvenient until they reach their 40s.
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For more information about age-related eye issues, please visit the New York City ophthalmology website of?Dr. James Kelly.
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Source: http://health.ezinemark.com/eyes-over-40-baby-boomers-17ef7f5e452.html
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