With age, muscles weaken, the skin loses its tone, unwanted changes occur throughout the body, so people are calm about their deteriorating vision. Ophthalmologists at the Laser Eye Microsurgery Clinic are confident that age-related changes in vision cannot be tolerated, they must be prevented and slowed down. How – the doctors tell.  

What Happens to the Eye as We Grow Old

Although we do not notice this, the structure of the eye changes, and after 40-50 years these changes become noticeable. The size of the pupil decreases as the muscles that control it weaken. This makes the pupil less sensitive to light, so older people need brighter lighting for reading. In addition, at an older age, the eye rebuilds more slowly when moving from a dark to a light room. But this problem can be solved by choosing lenses with a photochromic coating. Dry eye syndrome is a typical visual impairment in adulthood, especially in women after menopause, as tear production decreases over time. The ophthalmologist will help you choose drops that will relieve unpleasant symptoms.  

Peripheral vision deteriorates. Every decade our eye loses 1-3 viewing angles. Color perception changes, which is explained by a decrease in the sensitivity of the retinal photoreceptors. The gelatinous vitreous body becomes more fluid with age and begins to move away from the retina. It is not dangerous, but it causes flies in front of the eyes and occasionally flashes of light. The same phenomena signal retinal detachment, so when they appear, you should still consult a doctor. In addition to the latter, these changes are usually harmless and do not require optical correction, hardware treatment or surgery. However, there are a number of age-related eye diseases that threaten with loss of vision.  

Farsightedness is a constant companion of an elderly person whose eye loses the ability to focus. At first, this age-related visual impairment can be compensated for by the distance between the book and the eyes, but later you have to wear glasses or contact lenses. There are safe methods of hardware or laser correction of hyperopia, for example, LASIK. Cataract also usually develops after 60 years, but today this disease is not a death sentence. Ophthalmology surgeons of our Clinic perform operations that restore vision in case of cataracts.  

• Macular dystrophy is the main cause of blindness. To stop the loss of vision, we offer medical treatment and laser coagulation of retinal vessels. 
• Diabetic retinopathy.

The range of medicinal drops, modern safe technologies in ophthalmology give hope for the preservation of vision at any age. But do not forget that the chances of recovery are higher with early diagnosis. Therefore, at the first symptoms, even a slight discomfort in the eyes, it is worth visiting a doctor. The diagnostic equipment of our Clinic allows you to carry out a complete examination of the eyes at one time and reveal all the changes.

How to prevent visual impairment in old age

• Monitor blood sugar and blood pressure.
• To undergo comprehensive vision diagnostics annually.
• Be proactive. Regular exercise, even regular walking, reduces the risk of macular degeneration by 70%.
• Protect eyes from ultraviolet radiation.
• Eat a balanced diet. Eyes love vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenoids, omega-3 acids.
• Forget about smoking.
• Pay attention to the first signs of eye diseases.