3 Important Causes For Vision Loss In Elders

One of the common manifestations of aging is vision loss; with the 3 important causes of vision loss being cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Early detection is the key to effective treatment for these silent stealers of sight that may go unnoticed for long. Knowing the symptoms of these disorders, with regular eye checkups could nip them in the bud.

The 3 important causes for vision loss in elders: 

1) The first cause of vision disorder is Age Related Macular Degeneration or AMD; this cruel and frustrating vision disorder causes progressive retinal damage. Elders suffering from this vision disorder would have the peripheral vision intact, though he would find it difficult to focus on any object. Affecting every 1 out of 3 elder above the age of 75, the elder would even find it a challenge to read, recognize faces and the right medicine. They would carry a risk of falls with overlooking and misjudging obstacles. It is however fortunate that AMD does not lead to total blindness or any other health disorders, with there being medicines to slow their progression.

2) Cataracts more commonly occurs in elders, with every 1 out of 2 elder above the age of 80 suffering from this disorder. It causes clouding of the eyes lens with clumps of naturally occurring protein.  Appearing as a discoloration over the iris or pupil, cataracts causes a blurring of vision and impairs one’s ability to see colors. Though not painful, cataracts can lead to total blindness and impair an elder’s ability to live independently. Mild cataracts need frequent medicated eye drops, but when it causes problems in the day to day living, it is best to go in for surgery to remove the cataracts. 

3) The next important cause for vision loss in elders is glaucoma; caused by increased pressure in the eye cavity, this disorder could lead to damage of the nerve and vision loss sometimes also accompanied by pain. Elders with glaucoma could experience tunnel vision and gradual loss of peripheral vision. According to the National Institute on Health (NIH), every 8 elder out of 100 aged 70 and over have the beginning stages of this vision disorder. Glaucoma affects elders’ vision differently than macular degeneration; when severe it could also hinder the elders’ ability to live independently. There is no cure for glaucoma, though its progression can be slowed with being treated surgically and pharmaceutically.

It is to be understood that most of these vision loss causes have their roots in both lifestyle and genetic factors; it being evident that the loss of vision becomes worse if not treated in time. So it is best that those above 65 years of age have an annual eye examination. 

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