26
A
s the body changes during
the ageing process, the eye
is one of the vital organs that is
not exempt to these changes. The
ageing process means that our eyes
become less efficient in performing
their visual function and more
susceptible to sight-damaging
diseases.
A few of the more common
disorders that become more
prevalent as we get older are
discussed here:
Presbyopia is the loss of the eye’s
ability to change its focus to see
objects that are near is called
presbyopia. This is due to changes
which occur to the lens inside the
eye. Presbyopia is not a disease
but rather a natural ageing process
and can be easily corrected with
spectacles or contact lenses.
Presbyopia generally starts to
appear around the age of 40.
Dry eyes can occur in anyone at
any age but increases in the elderly
most likely due to age-related
changes to the eyelids and their
associated glands. Dry eyes occurs
when tear glands cannot make
enough tears or produce tears of
poor quality. Dry eyes can cause:
irritation, burning, redness and
even disruption in vision. Some
treatments can treat the root cause
of dry eyes while other treatments
act primarily to alleviate its
symptoms. Surgery may be needed
in the most serious cases of dry
eyes.
Cataract is a clouding of the lens
inside the eye which obstructs
incoming light from being
focused on to the retina at the
back of the eye. This can cause
symptoms of blurred vision,
sensitivity to glare, poor night
vision and possible double vision.
Cataract is a progressive disease
and the most common cause of
blindness; it is conventionally
treated with a relatively simple
surgical procedure. The most
common cause of cataract is due
to biological aging of the lens and
thus cataracts are very common in
the older population. Exposure to
UV radiation can accelerate the
process of cataract formation thus
it is important to protect your eyes
from the sun’s UV radiation when
outdoors. Polarized, UV protected
sunglasses can offer 100% UV
protection while greatly reducing
the effects of glare.
Glaucoma is a group of eye
conditions in which the optic
and the Eyes
Ageing
nerve is damaged at the point
where it leaves the eye. The optic
nerve transmits images from the
retina at the back of the eye to the
brain. This damage to the nerve
is often but not always associated
with a build-up of pressure inside
the eye. If damage to the optic
nerve from high eye pressure
continues, glaucoma will cause
permanent loss of vision. Without
treatment, glaucoma can cause
total permanent blindness within
a few years. Glaucoma tends to be
inherited and may not show up till
later in life. Apart from genetics
and age, other significant risk
factors include: race, diabetes and
some medications. Research has
suggested that the Afro-Caribbean
community may be at the greatest
risk in developing glaucoma.
Most people with glaucoma have
no early symptoms or pain from
increased pressure. Glaucoma
can be diagnosed by measuring
an individual’s eye pressure, an
examination of the back of the eye
(fundus examination) and the results
of a visual field exam. Treatment
may include prescription eye drops,
oral medications, laser treatment or
surgery.
Retinal disorders – The retina is
the thin, light-sensitive layer at the
