We’ve all heard about the benefits of eating carrots for eye health, but as we age, doctors say that taking a more proactive approach is recommended.
“A comprehensive yearly exam with dilation is always a good idea as age-related eye conditions become more common,” said Dr. Spencer Onishi, an ophthalmologist at Geisinger Eye Institute. “The most common conditions (that we see are) glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.”
Dr. Onishi emphasized that dilation is important so doctors are able to see the retina, which can show a multitude of disease processes. Many eye conditions like glaucoma are very treatable when caught early and dilation allows professionals to view the optic nerve to see changes that are consistent with glaucoma.
Dr. Keying Yan, an optometrist with UPMC in North Central Pa., added that understanding family ocular history is crucial and noted that diabetics should be even more cognizant of eye health.
Dr. Onishi said dry eye is becoming much more prevalent, especially in the younger population, due to reading electronic screens for hours in school and at home.
Children and parents are reporting increased blinking, he said. “Kids might think that their vision is a little blurry or they feel like they have a piece of sand in their eye. All those things can be attributed to the dry-eye component.”
The best way to relieve dry eye at a young age is to take breaks and change the viewing distance.
The “20/20/20 rule” is a widely recognized guideline for screen time. It suggests taking a break to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of screen use. Additionally, the American Optometric Association advises users to take a 15-minute break for every two hours of electronic device usage.
Dr. Yan advised: “For young children, it’s important to limit screen time to less than two hours per day.
“Similarly, for adults, it’s recommended to restrict screen time to two hours outside of work. Additionally, it’s advisable to power down electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime for better sleep quality.”
For contact lens wearers, practicing good hygiene is essential. This includes washing your hands with soap and water before handling contact lenses, adhering to the recommended contact lens replacement schedule, and refraining from sleeping, showering, or swimming while wearing them.
Changes as we age“Beginning in our 40s, individuals may experience a condition known as presbyopia, which refers to the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on objects up close. This can be resolved with the use of reading glasses. Alternatively, contact lenses, eye drops, and refractive surgeries can also offer resolution of blurry vision of near objects,” said Dr. Yan.
“As we age, challenges with nighttime driving may arise, Dr. Yan added. “Age-related cataract is a natural process where the lens inside the eye becomes cloudier. This can lead to symptoms like blurry vision, increased glare, difficulty driving at night, and reduced contrast sensitivity. Another factor contributing to nighttime driving difficulties in older individuals is the weakening of rod photoreceptors, which are responsible for vision in low light conditions.”
In addition to dry eye and blurry vision when driving at night, Dr. Yan noted that floaters become more prevalent with age.
“These are clumps of gel formed when the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside the eye shrinks and detaches from the retina. Sometimes, there can be flashes of light accompanying increased floaters.
In cases of increased floaters or flashes of light, it is crucial to seek urgent eye exams to rule out any potential retinal holes, tears, or detachment,” she said.
Warning signsOne additional friendly reminder — those engaged in activities like metalworking, woodworking, welding, yard work or gardening should wear protective eyewear to prevent potential eye injuries from foreign objects.
Symptoms and signs indicating issues with the front part of the eyes include redness, swelling, itching, excessive tearing, discharge, pain, blurry vision, and photosensitivity. Redness may be resulted from infection, inflammation, or irritation, while itching and watery eyes are often indicative of allergic reactions.
Symptoms and signs suggesting problems with the back of the eyes encompass painless reduction or distortion of vision, the onset of new or increased floaters, and experiencing flashes of light.
Both doctors say that when caught early, eye issues can generally be resolved quickly and painlessly. When medical procedures are required, the majority are in and out procedures with little down time.
“Anytime that you have an eye condition where you aren’t seeing as well as you should, it warrants a screening and comprehensive eye exam,” Dr. Onishi said.
