Today, 4.2 million Americans over forty years old have low vision or are legally blind, not including people categorized as blind. Most are so categorized because of a few common conditions, many of them age-related. Some of these conditions can be prevented through good health practices or managed through early detection. 

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors are the most prevalent eye conditions worldwide. These include myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, and presbyopia. Presbyopia differs from the other errors as it forms due to the stiffening of the eye’s natural lens.

Myopia occurs due to the elongation of the eyeball and steepening of the cornea. Astigmatism occurs due to the irregularity of the cornea, which causes blurry vision at all distances. Hyperopia is farsightedness, just like presbyopia, but it occurs due to the shortening of the eyeball and flattening of the cornea. 

Prevention

Many of these refractive errors are caused by genetic markers; only myopia seems to be influenced by environmental ones. Eye doctors recommend ensuring kids spend more time outside than indoors so their eyes can adjust. If your child develops myopia, you can use myopia control strategies to slow the progression. 

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, better known as AMD (age-related macular degeneration), is a condition that can lead to partial blindness. Central vision is the part of your sight that allows you to see right in front of your face and is responsible for detail tasks. People who lose central vision cannot read, recognize faces, or drive safely, but their peripheral vision is usually intact. 

AMD has two primary forms, wet or exudative and dry or atrophic macular degeneration. Dry AMD occurs due to the proliferation of drusen—yellow protein deposits in the retina and the macula. Wet AMD occurs due to the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the macula that leak fluids and damage the macula.

Prevention

The causes of AMD have genetic markers but have also been linked to the exposure of the eyes to UV light. The best way to prevent this condition is to use UV light protection every time you go out. 

Cataracts

As the primary cause of blindness in the world, cataracts occur due to the clouding of the natural eye lens. They can occur at birth but are much more common as you age, as the eye lens builds protein deposits inside. Cataracts are inevitable for many people due to aging. 

Prevention

Smoking and excessive alcohol have been associated with a higher risk of cataract development, and quitting is an excellent way to prevent it. Eye doctors also recommend a healthy diet to keep other conditions that can lead to the development of cataracts at bay. 

Glaucoma

This is a series of eye conditions that cause vision loss by damaging the optical nerve, usually through increasing intraocular eye pressure. However, eye doctors also found instances when optic nerve damage occurred when the eye pressure was normal. Early detection is critical to the preservation of vision and effective management.

Prevention

UV protective eyewear has been shown to lower the risk of developing the condition, as have glaucoma eye drops for those who detect it early. Knowing your family history is essential, as glaucoma is hereditary.

For more on eye conditions and how to prevent them, call Barrington Eye Care at (413) 528-2880 to reach our office in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.