Before we have a deep talk about eye health, let me tell a story.
When I entered my 40’s I noticed that my arms were becoming too short! In order to focus, I had to hold whatever I was trying to read farther and farther away from my face. I thought about picking up a pair of readers.
I mentioned this to a coworker and he told me to wait as long as I could before buying a pair of readers because once I got them I’d always need them. Maybe I should have listened to him but in the end, time would win out, and in order to read anything I’d need to rely on the readers.
If you’re a Baby Boomer and you don’t need some kind of eye correction, consider yourself very fortunate! When it comes to aging and maintaining eye health, we have a lot of options available. It can be a challenge but when we know what signs to look for, we can prevent or at least slow the effects of aging so that our healthy eyes can be maintained as we age.
Eye Health Begins at 40
Regardless of your age, it is always important to get a head start in maintaining eye health. It may seem difficult to juggle it along with many other demands that you face daily, but it should be considered. When you take eye health into consideration at an early age will provide you with a way to avoid any issues later in life.
If anything, you can pass this information on to others who may benefit. By spreading the word concerning eye health and the importance to get checked early, you are helping to spread awareness.
There are many eye conditions that can show early signs in your 40s, such as dry eyes. However, dry eyes are not an age-specific condition and can affect both men and women.
Preventative Measures
It is recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology that starting at 40 years of age; a baseline vision screening should be conducted. Having a baseline will assist the ophthalmologist as they identify and monitor eye conditions. If anything, you should be examined at least every 3 years before you hit 50.
Eye Health at 50
Regards of the fact that many think 50 looks like 30, there are still going to be changes occurring to your eyes as you age. One condition that can begin to develop is known as presbyopia, which causes your close-up eyesight to diminish. This will require you to begin investing in near-vision glasses. Not only that, but your night vision may also start to diminish, which could be caused by your eye’s photoreceptors getting older. Other possible eye conditions that could alter your vision involve diabetes and high blood pressure.
Preventative Measures
- As baby boomers, you should be focusing on preventing eye conditions so that they never occur. This means eliminating stressful situations that can raise blood pressure, thus preventing hypertension retinopathy. Also, if you are diabetic, you can begin to control it and thus prevent diabetic retinopathy.
- Maintaining your yearly exams will help your ophthalmologist to detect glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration early on. Having regular exams is a great part of maintaining healthy eyes.
- Preventing UV rays will decrease your risk of eyelid skin cancer, cataracts, and macular degeneration. You can achieve this type of prevention by utilizing a good pair of sunglasses that are able to supply you with complete protection from UV exposure.
Eye Health at 60+ Years Old
When you hit your 60s and 70s you will notice a lot of new changes like retiring and going on more travels. For baby boomers to enjoy these experiences the most, having healthy eyes will be important. This is why you need to fully understand the signs associated with glaucoma and macular degeneration as you get older. Consult with an ophthalmologist if you have been experiencing symptoms relating to glaucoma and macular degeneration, like blurriness, glare sensitivity, and/or reduced vision.
Preventative Measures
- As you get older, it is important to keep up with a healthy diet with exercise. Also ensure that you get enough sleep, as this will also help support healthy eyes.
- Understand any side effects that medications may cause. A few of the known culprits that cause vision impairment include corticosteroids, antimalarial, antihistamines, and antipsychotics. If you are taking any of these, speak to your healthcare professional about making changes.
- No matter how old you are, it is important to always know how to take care of your healthy eyes. However, growing older always has its drawbacks and the risk is ever increasing when it concerns vision. This is why it is important that you attempt to keep up with a lifestyle full of nutrition, exercise, and yearly exams so that you can continue to see the world how it was meant to be seen.