Why do I need an eye exam?
Many physical changes come with aging, including changes in
vision. This is why it is important to have a complete examination by an eye
doctor at least every other year after age 40 and every year after age 65.
People with certain risk factors (such as a family history of eye disease or
diabetes) should have a comprehensive eye exam every year regardless of age.
Even if your vision seems good, you should still have regular
eye examinations because some conditions are asymptomatic and affect the eyes
very slowly. By the time you notice any changes in your vision, it may be too
late to repair the damage. Fortunately, early treatment can stop most of the
vision loss caused by the following conditions most commonly seen in seniors.
Glaucoma
The eye is often compared to a camera. The front of the eye
contains a lens that focuses images on the inside of the back of the eye. This
area inside the eye is covered with special nerve cells. Some of these cells
"react to light" while others "carry the picture" to the brain. When excessive
pressure builds up in the eye, it damages the cells that carry the picture. This
is called glaucoma.
Glaucoma is usually painless and causes no noticeable symptoms.
Because there are many, many nerve cells in the back of the eye and they are
damaged only a few at a time, it can take years before someone with glaucoma
notices any changes in vision. An eye doctor can detect glaucoma much earlier,
however. Because vision loss due to glaucoma is permanent, early detection of
the condition is extremely important. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, there
are medications that can lower the pressure inside the eye and reduce the chance
of further damage. By getting the right treatment early, vision loss from
glaucoma can nearly always be prevented.
Macular degeneration
The nerve cells in the back of the eye (the retina) are very
close together in the area where the eye focuses the images that we see. This
part of the retina is called the macula. As people age, the macula tends
to change in ways that cause a gradual loss of sharp vision. Sometimes, the
macula actually begins to break down, and occasionally new blood vessels can
grow where they do not belong. This condition of abnormal macula breakdown
and/or new blood vessel formation is called age-related macular degeneration.
You might have this condition if you notice that: