Eye Conditions Caused by Aging

The eyes, like the rest of the body, change with age. This can impact vision and daily life, making it difficult to do things like read small print or see clearly when driving. Although many eye conditions associated with aging can’t be cured, treatment for eye conditions can help to slow their progression and improve vision.

At GW Eye Associates, Drs. Gordon G. Wong and Wildon C. Wong offer a variety of options to help preserve and improve vision in patients with eye conditions caused by aging. Serving La Jolla, CA, Carmel Valley, CA, San Diego, CA, and neighboring areas, our doctors are available to help you with your eye care needs.

There are several eye conditions that can develop with age. Here, we’d like to take a closer look at some of the most common ones.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition in which the lenses of the eyes lose elasticity, making it difficult to see things up close clearly. Presbyopia is a natural part of aging and often begins to become noticeable during middle age.

Presbyopia can make it difficult to read small print and sometimes causes eye fatigue and headaches from eye strain.

Presbyopia cannot be cured or reversed but prescription eyeglasses can help.

Cataracts

Cataracts are caused by a breakdown of the proteins in the lenses of the eyes. As a result, the lenses become cloudy and cause vision to be blurry. Some people describe cataracts as though they are looking through a fog.

Cataracts generally start to develop between the ages of 40 and 50, but usually do not impact vision until a person is 60 or older.

Cataract surgery is an effective treatment for cataracts. During surgery, the damaged lens is removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial lens.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve. It can develop at any age, but is most common in people over 60. Usually, glaucoma caused by aging results from an increase in the pressure inside the eye.

Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss. It’s important to undergo regular eye exams beginning around middle age, especially for people with a family history of glaucoma, to catch the condition early so that treatments to slow its progression and preserve vision can begin.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition in which cell loss in the macula, a special part of the retina, causes central vision to become distorted or blurred. AMD can lead to vision loss but not total blindness.

There is no cure for AMD but early intervention including eye injections and AMD specific vitamins can help slow its progression.

Seek Treatment for Age-Related Eye Conditions

If you have noticed a change in your vision or simply want to be proactive about your eye health, now’s the time to schedule an eye exam. At GW Eye Associates, we offer a wide variety of treatments to protect and improve vision affected by age-related eye conditions. Please call our office at (858) 755-9465 to schedule your eye exam today.