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Some people struggle with their vision their entire life, while others only experience issues in their later years. Some eye conditions are entirely treatable, but others cause irreversible vision loss. Having regular eye care visits and exams can help catch problems early and preserve your vision and eye health.
Our eye health specialists at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, want you to enjoy good eye health and vision into your golden years and beyond. Regular, comprehensive eye exams are your best defense against age-related eye conditions and vision loss. Here’s what you need to know to look out for as you age.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)usually occurs in people over the age of 50. It affects your central vision. Symptoms include blurred or “wavy” vision, night blindness, and changes in color perception. Macular degeneration causes irreversible vision loss, but anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections into the eye can help slow ongoing damage.
Cataracts are yellowed protein deposits on the lens of your eye. These gradually grow larger and eventually can completely block your vision in that eye. Symptoms include slow blurring and loss of vision, which may be patchy at first. Cataracts are curable; we simply replace the flawed intraocular lens (IOL) with a clear artificial one.
Glaucoma is caused by increasing pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) that causes damage to the optic nerve. Symptoms of glaucoma include blurry vision or loss of side (peripheral) vision. Unfortunately, vision already lost to glaucoma can’t be regained, but further damage can be prevented with eye drops or laser therapy.
As you age, your tear ducts may produce insufficient tears, or the balance of oil and water in your tears may be off. Dry eye syndrome can cause damage to your cornea, leading to various corneal eye diseases. If your cornea is severely damaged to the point that you lose your vision, we may recommend a corneal transplant. This requires a donor cornea and surgical intervention. Prompt treatment for dry eyes can reduce the chances of needing a transplant.
Retinopathy is damage to the retina, which lines the back of the eye and receives visual images. Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels supplying the retina, causing “floaters” or black spots in your vision, which are often a result of retinal microtearing. Diabetic retinopathy is typically treated with injections or laser therapy to help prevent further vision loss.
Having vision issues? It’s time to give us a call at 805-388-1211 or make an appointment online at Ventura Eye Institute today.
