A recent survey found 44 percent of 2,000 adults said they were more fearful of losing their sight than developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or even heart disease.
According to a new report from The Vision Council, an industry group, 1 in 28 Americans ages 40 and up suffers from low vision, a visual impairment that cannot be repaired by glasses, , medicine or surgery. This number is guaranteed to grow in coming years as the population ages and eyesight declines. Every day an estimated 10,000 baby boomers turn 65, making them members of a very vulnerable group: Low vision is most prevalent among those 65 and older.
Many may find this news distressing. Forty-four percent of 2,000 adults in a recent survey said they were more fearful of losing their sight than developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or even . While vision loss cannot be restored, oftentimes it can be delayed or prevented. Read about these common low-vision disorders, and learn how to best improve and possibly save your own eyesight:
Cataracts
The National Eye Institute reports that more than 24 million people in the U.S. have cataracts.This figure is expected to jump to nearly 40 million by 2030.
is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which can cause people to feel like they’re viewing the world through a dirty window or windshield, says Dr. Robert Noecker, director of glaucoma at Ophthalmic Consultants of Connecticut in Fairfield and assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Yale University.
Typical symptoms include cloudy or blurred vision, poor sight at night, double vision in one eye, faded colors and the need for frequent changes to one’s eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions.
A cataract can occur in only one eye or both. The most common cause is the unavoidable act of aging – folks 60 and older should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam once every two years. Exposure to UV light and lifestyle factors such as and alcohol use can also contribute.
“Cataract surgery fixes the problem,” Noecker says. During the procedure, the affected lens is removed and replaced with a plastic one, ensuring “the cataract is gone forever.” But surgery is not without risks. Noecker notes that infections, while rare, can happen and patients should consider all options before choosing surgery.
If the symptoms are not severe – meaning vision loss doesn’t affect day-to-day activities such as driving and reading – then brighter lighting, magnifying lenses and new eyeglasses can help.
There are steps people can take to reduce their chance of developing cataracts. Says Dr. Rachel Bishop, chief of the consult services section at the National Eye Institute: “The first is not smoking. The second is protecting their eyes from sunlight by wearing sunglasses. UV light exposure is associated with cataract but also with other problems in the eye, so we recommend people wear UV-protection sunglasses when out in the bright daylight.” A diet full of leafy greens and other antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, beans, nuts and artichokes is also recommended.
Glaucoma
The National Eye Institute reports that almost 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma, which the agency expects will become 4 million by 2030.
“Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve, the cable that hooks the eye up to the brain, is damaged by pressure inside the eye,” says Dr. Evan Waxman, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and vice chair of education for the UPMC Eye Center. “[It] impairs the peripheral vision in a slow sneaky way that people often don’t notice until quite a bit of damage is done.”
In fact, glaucoma causes no pain and initially there may be no symptoms. But as the disease progresses, and if left untreated, the ability to view objects to the side or out of the corner of the eye will disappear, leading to what one may describe as tunnel vision. Then the central vision will diminish until it too is completely gone.
“Glaucoma is the most common cause of vision loss in African-Americans,” Waxman says. Everyone older than 60 is especially at risk, particularly Latinos, along with people who have a of the condition.
Glaucoma is not preventable but most vision loss from glaucoma is. “The key is getting an eye exam to pick up on the changes in the early stages and begin treatment,” Bishop says. And while there is no cure, it can be controlled through prescription eye drops, laser treatment and sometimes surgery, all of which can lower eye pressure, thus saving the optic nerve from further damage.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The National Eye Institute reports that more than 2 million people in the U.S. have age-related macular degeneration; this figure is expected to increase to more than 3.5 million by 2030.
Age-related macular degeneration is a condition that causes the central area of the retina, called the macula, to deteriorate, leading to the inability to see fine detail, explains Dr. Malvin Anders, chief of ophthalmology at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. Due to the blurring of the central vision, affected activities can include driving, reading and sewing.
There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD is caused by the breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula, resulting in a gradual loss of central vision. Wet AMD stems from the growth of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina and bleeding into the macular region, leading to a more rapid loss of central vision.
In its most severe stages, Anders notes, macular degeneration can cause central blind spots. In milder forms, images, especially lines, may become distorted or wavy. AMD, however, does not lead to actual blindness as the peripheral vision is always preserved.
“As the name suggests, age-related macular degeneration is a disease of aging,” Anders says, primarily affecting those ages 60 and up. It’s more common among Caucasians than African-Americans or Latinos, and people with a family history have a higher risk. Smoking can also double one’s odds of developing AMD.
There is no treatment for early AMD, though at that stage there may be no symptoms or vision loss. If you have the disease, a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year can help determine if the condition is worsening. Laser therapy can stop any bleeding if present, while an injection of drugs can stop blood vessels from leaking.
“Good nutrition, control of cholesterol and blood pressure, and cessation of smoking are important factors in preventing the progression of macular degeneration,” Anders advises. These behaviors can also reduce your risk. And, Anders adds, a diet full of “fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, such as broccoli, collard greens, kale, kiwi, spinach and zucchini is especially of value.”