Aging and Your Eyes: When Should You See an Ophthalmologist

Aging and Your Eyes: When Should You See an Ophthalmologist

Aging and Disability is a perfectly natural part of life. As we get older, so does our body. It’s just one of those unalterable facts of life. Along with every other part of our bodies, our eyes too, begin to get a little older and a little slower. Maybe you started holding the newspaper at a slightly larger distance. Perhaps you have to squint to see something a little farther away. The fact is, it is perfectly alright. Millions of Indians are facing the same dilemma that you are. But what also needs to be known is that as your eyes get older, they require special attention. The attention of a good ophthalmologist. After all, they are your windows to the world.

Again, age associated eye changes are perfectly normal. Changes like presbyopia, which absolutely aren’t a signal of any major eye disease. From around the age of 40, the natural lens of the eye starts to get more sturdy, stiff and a little cloudy. While it is not a universal phenomenon, it’s definitely something that shouldn’t be ignored if it is happening to you. You might even develop something a slightly bigger eye problem, but that is also nothing to worry about. With modern eye care procedures made more available by the advances of medical sciences, procedures like Cataract and LASIK are accessible to almost everyone.
Aging and Your Eyes: When Should You See an Ophthalmologist

When should you consider visiting an Ophthalmologist?

  • Experience Double Vision
  • Face a swelling or redness in your eye or adjacent areas
  • Develop a headache when doing taxing tasks
  • Have to deal with aches in the eyes when conducting regular tasks
  • Find it difficult to see close by or far away
  • Find it excessively difficult to read in low light

Common eye problems for people over 40

Cataracts: The natural lenses of your eyes become foggy and unclear as you age. This makes your vision blurry. Early stages can be treated with glasses. But you’ll need surgery to cure it.

Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve, lead to a loss in side vision. Regular medical exams are the only way to ensure it doesn’t lead to total blindness.

Dry Eye: It is a common problem among women who are pregnant and are going through menopause. You must see an ophthalmologist to find a suitable cure for yourself.

Decreased eye colour: As people age, normal colour sensitivity in the eye declines. Colours become less bright and washed out. Consult your doctor immediately.
Diabetic Retinopathy: People after 50s who have diabetes are the most at risk for this disease. However, with tight control of blood sugar and regular visits to the ophthalmologist you can avoid this completely.

Most of these aging related concerns can be taken care of with regular, frequent and thorough eye check-ups. As you age, the frequency of these check-ups must increase. It is highly recommended that you get thoroughly checked as soon as you turn 40.

Ensure that you convey all the symptoms of all your problems to your eye doctor. Remember, it is essential you take great care of your eyes as you age.

 

Rajveer singh

Rajveer Singh profile imageAuthor Bio: An MBBS student currently living in Bangalore. His interests range from Eyecare health tips to medicine, healthy food, exercise and covering all aspects of Ophthalmology.

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