When it comes to eye problems after 60s, it isn’t uncommon for older individuals to lose sight beyond the normal, age-related vision changes. Vision loss occurs in varying degrees and forms, and such issues can limit a person’s ability to carry out their daily activities and tasks. Here are the most common forms of eye conditions and their symptoms.
Diabetic Retinopathy
As a potentially blinding complication of diabetes, this condition occurs when high blood sugar levels lead to the damage of blood vessels in one’s retina. Blood vessels may become leaky or grow where they shouldn’t, leading to breakages and bleeding. When they start to heal, that’s where the blood vessels contract and detach one’s retina. The most common symptoms of this condition include seeing dark objects or shadows float across your vision, pain in the eye, and distorted or blurred vision. While there isn’t a cure for diabetic retinopathy, surgical removal of the vitreous gel may improve one’s vision if it’s still in the early stages.
Macular Degeneration
This chronic condition causes the loss of central vision due to damage to the macula in the central part of one’s retina, and it tends to worsen over time. When the central portion of the retina, also called the macula, wears down, it doesn’t usually lead to blindness but may cause severe vision impairment. It is the leading cause of severe, permanent vision loss in older adults. The two main types of macular degeneration include:
- Dry form – Those experiencing the wet form may have yellow deposits or drusen in the macula. As the drusen multiply and get bigger, vision can be dimmed or distorted
- Wet form – This happens when blood vessels grow from underneath one’s macula, causing blood and fluid leaks in the retina. Those experiencing the wet form may have blind spots and distorted vision.
There are no visual symptoms in the early stages, but a person’s vision will eventually start appearing blurry or wavy. In more advanced cases, a person’s vision may disappear completely. Age is the biggest risk factor when it comes to developing this condition, following genetics, high blood pressure, race, and smoking.
Glaucoma
Did you know that glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness in America? When pressure within the eye is elevated, it could cause damage to one’s optic nerve, leading to vision loss or blindness. Many older individuals don’t realize they have glaucoma since it doesn’t yield any obvious symptoms. However, as this condition progresses, the individual experiencing it may start noticing that their peripheral vision is failing gradually. If left untreated, individuals may eventually experience worsening tunnel vision. The risks factors for this condition include the use of steroid medications, near-sightedness, genetics, and age.
Why Choose Discovery Village At Westchase?
Most age-related conditions should be detected and treated early in order to prevent lasting damage. At Discovery Village At Westchase, our residents receive round-the-clock care from professionally-trained caregivers who can help to detect any medical issues your loved ones may have.
To learn more about living in Discovery Village At Westchase, feel free to contact us today!
