11-27-2024 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 10
10 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, November 27, 2024
EYE HEALTH
Our aging eyes
Regular visits to your eye
doctor key to good vision
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
U
nless you needed corrected vision as a child, most people don’t worry about
their vision until somewhere around their fortieth birthday. That’s when a
majority of adults start noticing vision problems. It’s called presbyopia,
“when your eyes gradually lose the ability to see things clearly up close,” says the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). “It is a normal part of aging.” And
there are other eye issues of which you should be aware.
It’s also time to start seeing an eye
care provider such as an optometrist or
ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a
medical doctor (M.D.), who can diagnose
and treat eye diseases. An ophthalmologist has 12-14 years of education and
is proficient in surgery on delicate eyes.
There are general ophthalmologists as
well as subspecialists who specialize in a
particular part of the eye or disease, such
as the cornea, retina or glaucoma. Most
important, though, is that ophthalmologists are medical doctors, so they are
able to treat and diagnose all eye conditions. “Many ophthalmologists,” says
the AAO, “are also involved in scientific
research on the causes and cures for eye
diseases and vision disorders.”
“Many ophthalmologists,” says the
AAO, “are also involved in scientific
research on the causes and cures for eye
diseases and vision disorders.”
The second type of eye care professionals is an optometrist who can assess
your vision, basic eye care, and prescribe corrective eyeglasses and contact
lenses. The professional designation is
Doctor of Optometry, a degree conferred
after completing four years of optometry
school, although they are not medical
doctors. While some optometrists do
additional training beyond that, most
do not. Many optometrists focus on
refraction, measuring what correction
your eyes need for your eyeglasses or
contact lenses in addition to generalized
eye care.
Often, ophthalmologists and optometrists work together in the same offices as a team. In the United States,
what optometrists are licensed to do for
patients can vary from state to state.
Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, M.D.,
staff ophthalmologist at the National Eye
Institute, part of the National Institutes
of Health (NEI/NIH), specializes in cataract and refractive surgery. She spent
15 years in the Air Force, eight years of
which was spent in clinical practice at
Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs,
Maryland. Then, her research focused
mainly on infections after refractive surgery, corneal wound healing, and corneal
crosslinking to treat degenerative corneal
conditions. Now at NEI, she works as a
comprehensive ophthalmologist.
“You should start getting screened
for eye diseases around the age of
40, including a baseline, and continue
annually through to age 65. Since many
diseases are asymptomatic, there’s no
warning. A dilated eye exam is the only
way you can be sure your eyes are
healthy. Depending on your vision and
your physical health, your ophthalmologist may recommend an exam every year
or every other year.”
Why is your physical health important? Some eye diseases can be genetic,
so knowing your family’s medical history
is important. Others are race and/or age
related. In general, your eyes will stay
healthier if you use sunglasses that block
UV light. Even babies and young children
need sunglasses. Of course, you should
eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy
weight and quit smoking. However, once
you notice any change in your vision, you
should see an ophthalmologist as soon
as possible.
What are the most common eye diseases that affect aging eyes? The NEI
lists several. There are many others, but
these are the most prevalent.
• Age-related macular degeneration
(AMD)
• Diabetic eye disease
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Dry eye
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
“The macula,” says the AAO, “is a
small but important area in the center of
the retina, a light sensitive tissue lining
the back of the eye. You need the macula
to clearly see details of objects in front of
you, like faces and written text.”
When the macula deteriorates, you
may retain peripheral vision, but the
center, where the macula is located, will
be blurred. There are two types of AMD:
wet and dry. Eighty percent of those with
AMD will have the dry version. The web
version is less common but more serious.
According to the NEI, age is the greatest risk factor, but other factors include
smoking, family history, and obesity.
Northern Europeans are more susceptible with about two percent developing
AMD and about four percent among
African Americans. To protect against
developing AMD, maintain a healthy
weight and blood pressure, stop smoking and exercise.
Should you develop AMD, you may
be prescribed AREDS, Age-Related Eye
Disease Study special vitamins/minerals supplement formulation. Other treatments include laser surgery or eye injections.
Diabetic eye disease
According to the NEI, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss
and blindness. It is a group of eye problems associated with diabetes. There are
no early warning signs or symptoms so
getting regular checkups is critical. It is
