Vision Problems In The Elderly | mumbaieyecare

1. VisionProblemsInTheElderly| mumbaieyecare Introduction Thehumaneyeis aspecializedsensory organ.It capturesanddetects visual images.Itcarries visual informationtothebrain.Thehumaneye includes the cornea,pupil, lens,iris,retina,optic nerves,aqueousandvitreous humour& photoreceptors. Theeyes haveseveralmusclesthatallowapersontolookindifferent directionswithoutanyheadmovement.Thesemuscles operatethrough variouscranialnerves suchastheabducens,thetrochlear,andthe oculomotornerves. Ageing is aslow andnaturalprocessthatinitiates inearly adulthood.Many functionsofthebody gradually declineduetoageing.Increasinginagecan leadtoseveral changes ineyesandtheirvision.Eyeproblems arecommon duringageing.However,several measures help in maintainingtheoptimum healthoftheeyes. Whyare Seniors more sensitivetoeyeproblems? Changesthathappen inoldageare: Itbecomeshardertofocusonanyobject for longtime Itisdifficulttosee in dim light. The lens becomesyellowor brown. Eyesbecome dry due tolessproductionoffluid The number of nervecellsdecreases.      Theageingprocessmayalsoaffecttheproductionoftears.Thereis a decrease intearproductionthatis importanttoprovidesufficient moistureto theeyes.Insufficiencyintheamountofliquidmay causedry eyes. Inmiddleage,thelens oftheeyes becomesless flexible.Thethickness ofthe lensesreduces,andtheability tofocusonanearby objectis also impaired.It is knownaspresbyopia. Commoneyeproblemsinelderly

2. Increasingageinterfere withseveral body functions.Itmay causevariouseye problems.Thesearepresbyopia,dryeyes, cataract, glaucoma,conjunctivitis, eyelidproblems,andretinaldisorders.Retinaldisorders includeage-related maculardegeneration (AMD),DiabeticRetinopathy,and Retinaldetachment. Presbyopia:Itis acondition inwhichtheeyelens becomesless flexible,less thick&causedifficultytofocusonnearby objects. Dryeyes: Theconditionoccurswhentearproduction is less.It leads tosevere dryness intheeyes. Cataract:Humaneyehas lensestofocusontheobject.These lensesmade upofproteins.Proteinmoleculesofthe lensesformclusters andcause blurredvision.Thecondition is knownasacataract.Acataractdevelopsin theelderly.Replacing lenseswithartificiallensesis thecataracttreatment. Glaucoma: Glaucomaoccurs whenthepressureof fluid withintheeyes increases.Itcandamagetheoptic nerve.Lossof vision is aslow processin glaucoma. Theuseofeyedropstotreat glaucomais effective,but sometimeseyesurgery becomes necessary. Retinaldisorders:Retinal disorders becomethe reasonbehindmost blindnesscasesinthepresenttime.The retina is thebackliningof theeyes havingmany cellsresponsibleforthevisualizationof images. Thecellsalso havethefunction is totransfer imagestothebrain.Retinaldisorders interfere withthefunctioningofcellsduringthetransferofvisuals tothebrain. Age-relatedmaculardegeneration(ARMD):Maculaisa centralregionoftheretina havingmanylight-sensitive cells.The functionofthe maculaisfacialrecognitionandreading.Itmay cause visionloss but does notresponsible for totalblindness. Diabeticretinopathy: Itisacomplicationthatoccursdue to diabetesin whichthe supplyofoxygentothe retinabecomes impaired.Itresultsinmanyvisionproblems.Lasertreatment is usuallya preferredtreatment toprevent visionloss.   Conjunctivitis:The inflammationofthetransparentcoveringoftheeyeballis knownasconjunctivitis.Theeyeappears pinkinthis condition.Thedoctor may prescribeantibiotics orantiallergics tomanagethesymptoms ofthis disease. Prevention

3. Theelderlymay preventordelaytheoccurrenceorslowdowntheeye problemsthroughthefollowingmeasures: The routine ocularexamination bya doctor Treatmentofmanyeye problemspossible ifthey foundearly. You needtovisit yourophthalmologist andtest your eyesight for glaucomaor cataract. Peoplewhohave afamilyhistoryofeyediseaseand diabetes needtoexamine pupildilationatleast oncea year toprevent eye problems. If youexperience asuddenlossofvision, blurredvision, redness, swelling,tearyeyesandpain,consult with an ophthalmologist.     Conclusion Oculardiseases mayoccuratany age.However,theelderlyareatincreased risk fordevelopingvariouseyediseases.Itis duetoageingandreducingthe functioningofseveral tissues.However,itis simpletomaintaingoodeye healthbyregulareyeexaminationsandkeepyourbody healthy.Dietalso plays asignificantrole in maintaininghealthy eyes.Severeeyeconditions may treatby surgeries.