Senior Eye Health

As we reach our 50s and beyond, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of age-related vision disorders. Because many of these present no warning signs at all, scheduling a yearly comprehensive eye exam is the key to staying informed and protecting your vision.

In adults 55 years and older, a number of eye diseases have the potential to seriously damaging the eye, and even cause permanent vision loss.  Early detection is critical, at Clay Eye Physicians and Surgeons, we always keep our patients informed of symptoms including:

• Cloudy, hazy, and blurry vision
• Sudden and severe loss of vision
• Rings around lights
• Dark spots
• Flashing lights
• Severe eye and head pain
• Tunnel vision
• Decreased peripheral vision

The most common age-related eye disorders include:

• Presbyopia – noticeable in adults above the age of 45, when the lens of the eye begins to lose its ability to focus on both distant and near objects adequately
• Cataracts – over 50% of people over the age of 60 develop this disorder, which is the gradual clouding of the eye’s crystalline lens and is only truly curable through surgery
• Glaucoma – this disease causes fluid and pressure to build up in the eye and damage the optic nerve, and can lead to total vision loss if ignored
• Age-related macular degeneration – as the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in people above the age of 55, this disease causes decreased the function of the central retina, making vision hazy or blurry
• Diabetic retinopathy – chronically high blood sugar from diabetes is associated with damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina

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The ophthalmologists at Clay Eye Physicians and Surgeons offer comprehensive eye exams to screen for any warning signs of these age-related vision disorders and recommend surgery to patients whose lives are negatively affected by their eyesight. Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you could be at high risk for developing ocular abnormalities if you are diabetic, have hypertension, or have a family history of eye disease. We recommend yearly eye exams to prevent vision disorders from developing or worsening and strive to always keep our patients educated on their eye health. Have a healthy vision for a lifetime – schedule your eye exam with Clay Eye Physicians and Surgeons today!