Eyesight and Age: The Basics

There are many things that change in your body as you age, and eyesight is one of them. Our eyes are so important, and help us to do so many things, so keeping them healthy for as long as possible is vital.

Here is some basic information about eyesight and aging: 

Healthy Eating 

Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for your entire body, but there are a few foods you can eat that have great benefits for your eyes too. Try adding some of the following to your diet to boost your eye health: 

  • Dairy products such as milk and yoghurt 
  • Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale 
  • Nuts and seeds 
  • Eggs 
  • Carrots 
  • Water 
  • Fish such as salmon and tuna 

Regular Check-Ups 

One of the most important and beneficial things you can do to maintain the health of your eyes is to have regular check-ups, regardless of your age. Not only will this help manage pre-existing issues, but it will also pick up on any new ones at an early stage, hopefully reducing their effect later on. Your eye doctor is the best person to ask about any eye concerns and will be able to point you in the right direction for everything from food supplements to eye surgery. Many people forget to get their eyes tested, and only go when they notice something is wrong. It is much better to get them regularly checked, in order to prevent or minimize larger issues.  

Common Eye Problems 

There are many common issues that can occur with your eyes and vision at any point during your life, so it is important to pay attention to how your vision develops and changes. 

  • Cataracts – these occur when the lens of the eye becomes clouded. If untreated it can cause severe vision problems and can occur in one or both eyes. Cataract surgery is an incredibly common procedure in which the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a new one. 
  • Glaucoma – this occurs when the optic nerve is damaged. This nerve is the one that connects the eye to the brain, and the damage usually results from increased pressure due to fluid buildup at the front of the eye. 
  • Dry Eye – symptoms of dry eye can include redness, itching, and light sensitivity, and can be caused by factors that lead to poor or a lack of tear production. These factors can include medication, the environment, and age. 
  • Astigmatism – this can cause blurred vision at any distance, and is caused by light focusing at multiple places in the eye due to the eye not being completely round. This problem is very common, and can be treated with contact lenses, glasses, or surgery. 
  • Presbyopia – this is age-related farsightedness, in which objects at a close distance gradually become blurry as you age. If you find yourself struggling to read words up close, getting headaches and eye strain, you may be developing it. It is very normal, and can be treated with contact lenses from https://www.contactlenses.co.uk, glasses, or surgery. 

This is just some very basic information as to the relationship between aging and your eyes, and the best place to get further information is your eye doctor. Maintaining a healthy diet, regular check-ups and being aware of potential issues will all help keep you as healthy as possible and will prepare you for any eventuality.  

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