78 percent of aging Americans affected by vision loss; Pennsylvania Optometric Association gives advice to protect eyesight
It’s
an unfortunate fact of life that vision can change over time, resulting in
noticeable differences in how well adults see the world around them. In fact,
78 percent of adults age 55 or older report experiencing some vision loss
according to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2014 American Eye-Q®
consumer survey.
“The number of blind and
visually impaired people is expected to double over the next 16 years,” said the
AOA’s Vision Rehabilitation Section chair,
Dr. Brenda Heinke Motecalvo. “This staggering statistic has implications
for millions of aging Americans, but these changes don’t have to compromise a
person’s lifestyle. Maintaining good health and seeing an eye doctor on a
regular basis are important steps to help preserve vision.”
More common age-related
vision problems include difficulty seeing things up close, far away or in low
light, and sensitivity to light and glare. Some symptoms may seem like minor
vision problems, but may actually be warning signs of serious eye diseases that
could lead to permanent vision loss. Those diseases include:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): An eye disease affecting the
macula, the center of the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye.
AMD can cause loss of central vision.
- Cataracts: A clouding of the lens of the eye that
usually develops slowly over time and can interfere with vision. Cataracts can cause a decrease
in visual contrast
between objects and their background, a dulling of colors and an increased sensitivity to
glare.
- Diabetic retinopathy: A condition occurring in
people with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the tiny blood
vessels that nourish the retina. The longer a person has diabetes, the
more likely they are to develop the condition, which can lead to blindness.
- Glaucoma: An eye disease leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve due to rising internal fluid pressure in the eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness.
Another common and often
chronic condition that Americans can experience later in life is dry eye. This
occurs when there are insufficient tears nourishing the eye. Tears maintain the
health of the front surface of the eye and assist in clear, quality vision. Studies
show that women are more likely to develop dry eye, especially during
menopause.
By 2030, aging Americans will
represent 19 percent of the population, which is an increase from 12 percent in
2000. Coping with age-related eye diseases and disorders and the resulting
changes in health and lifestyles is a priority for this growing group of
consumers. The AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey revealed that 40
percent of consumers age 55 or older are concerned about losing their
independence as a result of developing a serious vision problem. Many eye
diseases lack early symptoms and may develop painlessly; therefore, adults may
not notice vision changes until the condition is advanced. Creating a healthy
lifestyle helps to ward off eye diseases and maintain existing eyesight.
“Eating a low-fat diet rich in green, leafy vegetables
and fish, not smoking, monitoring blood pressure levels, exercising regularly
and wearing proper sunglasses to protect eyes from UV rays can all play a role
in preserving eyesight and eye health,” explained Dr. Montecalvo. “Early
diagnosis and treatment of serious eye diseases and disorders is critical and can
often prevent a total loss of vision, improve adults’ independence and quality
of life.”
For those suffering from
age-related eye conditions, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA)
recommends the following tips:
- Control
glare: Purchase translucent lamp
shades, install light-filtering window blinds or shades, use matte or flat
finishes for walls and countertops and relocate the television to where it
does not reflect glare.
- Use contrasting
colors: Decorate with throw
rugs, light switches and telephones that are different colors so they can
be spotted quickly and easily.
- Give the
eyes a boost: Install clocks,
thermometers and timers with large block letters. Magnifying glasses can also
be used for reading when larger print is not available.
- Change
the settings on mobile devices: Increase the text size on the screen of smartphones and
tablets and adjust the screen’s brightness or background color.
- Stay safe while driving: Wear quality sunglasses for daytime driving and use anti-reflective lenses to reduce headlight glare. Limit driving at dusk, dawn or at night if seeing under low light is difficult.
Yearly eye exams provide the
best protection for preventing the onset of eye diseases and permits adults to
continue living active and productive lifestyles as they age. To find a doctor
of optometry, or for more information on age-related eye conditions, please
visit www.poaeyes.org.
About the survey:
The ninth annual American
Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen
& Berland Associates (PSB). From March
20-25, 2014, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally
representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is
plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95% confidence level)
About
the Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
About the American Optometric Association
(AOA):
The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and
armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is
proud to represent the profession of optometry, America’s family eye doctors,
who take a leading role in an individual’s overall eye and vision care, health
and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have
extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders,
diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing
two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye
health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit
www.aoa.org.
