There is much you can do to keep bright, beautiful, healthy eyes as you age. Read on for the latest from experts.
It’s not just cataracts and loss of close-up vision, aging affects the appearance of your eyes in more ways than you might imagine. We address eight age-related eye issues to help you understand, prevent (when possible) and safely treat the effects of aging on your eyes:
Safeguard Your Sight
In addition to taking a toll on your appearance, aging also increases your risk of eye disease and vision issues, including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. However, you can safeguard your sight:
- Practice healthy habits. Don’t smoke, and wear a hat and UV-protective sunglasses when outside.
- See your primary care doctor regularly. Have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. And ask your doctor if diabetes screening is right for you. Both diabetes and high blood pressure can lead to vision loss.
- See your eye doctor for routine exams. Ophthalmologist John Fornarotto recommends routine eye exams once every two to three years before age 65, and once yearly after. Need more motivation? Experts at Harvard Medical School estimate that 40 to 50 percent of blindness can be prevented or treated, mostly through ongoing eye exams.
