Guide To Common Eye Problems In Seniors And What To Do About Them

Eye Floaters

When individuals get older, they're also more likely to experience eye floaters. 'Floaters' are rings, weblike lines, or spots that seem to move or swim through an individual's vision. The floaters might look like gray or black specks individuals can't quite focus on directly. Even though floaters appear to be in the environment surrounding an individual, they're actually within the eye itself. Most eye floaters aren't cause for alarm, but they can indicate individuals have an underlying health issue or eye condition. Many cases of eye floaters will vanish by themselves, so an effective treatment is to simply ignore them.

For more serious cases, patients can undergo a vitrectomy. This removes eye floaters, but it is an invasive surgery. Laser therapy can also sometimes be used to break up eye floaters by aiming lasers at them. However, this does come with the risk of damaging the retina if the lasers are incorrectly aimed. Individuals can't necessarily prevent eye floaters or the diseases that cause them, but they can be proactive about their eye health by receiving regular eye exams.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is among the most common causes of blindness and vision loss in individuals older than sixty years old. Rather than being one single illness or condition, this is actually a group of different eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve. Though the condition can occur at any age, seniors and older adults are more likely to experience it. It's important to detect glaucoma in the early stages to prevent it from getting to the point of causing vision loss. One prevention measure is to get regular eye examinations with dilation.

Individuals should also be aware of their family history of eye health, take prescribed eyedrops, and wear eye protection. Glaucoma can also be reduced by exercising since this can reduce pressure in the eye. The good news is this condition has a variety of treatments. There are many eye drops available to treat the underlying cause and symptoms. Patients might also be prescribed oral medications for their eye pressure. If need be, a doctor might recommend surgery.