As adults enter their 40s, the decreasing capacity to focus on near- and far-range objects is a telltale sign of the toll aging takes on ocular health. Entering this mid-life* stage, early-detection eye health practices should be a critical part of new routines adults adopt to offset diminishing whole body function. By age 40, a comprehensive eye exam for all asymptomatic adults is critical for identifying ocular conditions that can lead to worsening eyesight if left unaddressed. For screenings that indicate early-stage eye disease, it’s equally important for patients to follow up with an ophthalmologist to discuss treatment that can preserve one’s vision. As the leading cause of blindness for people over 60, early-onset glaucoma can take the same toll on a healthy, mid-life adult who is otherwise thriving.
To recognize the importance of starting early to preserve lifelong eye health, the American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO) is celebrating Healthy Aging Month in September. This month, the AAO spotlights a multitude of early action steps the aging population can take to optimize outcomes in a life stage that is associated with onset of declining vision and ocular disease.
Take Action!
- Good nutrition and regular exercise are key to optimizing our health over a lifetime, right? Beginning in our 40s, comprehensive eye exams should join mammography (for women) and colonoscopy as part of mid-life health regimens that screen for signs of aging on whole-body deterioration and development of chronic disease.
- Prepare for compromising eyesight “annoyances” that begin in mid-life. Presbyopia – the eye’s gradual loss of ability to focus on objects in close range as aging stiffens the lens — is more a mark of getting older than a treatable disease. Fortunately, the optical solution for this mid-life milestone is selecting that first pair of reading glasses.
- In advancing age, keep watch for signs of degenerative eye diseases that can lead to total blindness if left untreated. When blurry vision, blind spots, eye pain, rapid loss of vision and other telltale markers of glaucoma occur, make an appointment ASAP to see an ophthalmologist. Assessing the full extent of vision loss and areas of rapid deterioration allows an ophthalmologist to diagnose and treat glaucoma patients to slow the rate of vision loss before this disease progresses to a more damaging stage.
- Good eye health is for ALL ages! Individuals who are younger than 40 and have symptoms or risk factors for developing eye disease should not wait until the recommended age to have a comprehensive eye exam. Diabetes, high blood pressure and family history are several major risk factors for developing damaging eye disease. An ophthalmologist or a low vision specialist can address predisposition to ocular disease and outline types of early treatment that can significantly preserve a younger patient’s vision.
As end of summer gives way to resuming busier routines, September is an excellent month scheduling needed ophthalmology and optometry appointments. The priority that asymptomatic adults should place on getting a baseline comprehensive eye exam by age 40 cannot be stressed enough. Even those with no known risk factors for developing eye disease should be screened to detect common ophthalmic diseases that can be treated early to prevent significant vision loss. In the 40+ age group, ophthalmologists screen for diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, as well as less common, but equally serious conditions like ocular tumors.
Contact UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 to schedule your eye exam today! To learn more on how changes in the eye lead to deteriorating vision as one ages, click HERE.
#HealthyAgingMonth @AcademyEyeSmart
Healthy Eyes = Healthy Lives.
* According to the latest data (2020) from the National Vital Statistics System, the average American life expectancy is 77.0