For most people, eye care is not something many people think about, but it’s among the most important. Sight is the most useful among all senses, and it’s also the one that degenerates the most over time. While some people experience eye problems now and then, the future is bleak if you get more now.
If you experience consistent eye problems, you might want to get it looked at as soon as possible. While eye health technology is improving, eye issues can be problematic. Catching them early can help give your eyes the longevity you want them to have.
Why You Need Eye Care Early
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Even if you think your vision is fine, it doesn’t mean you won’t eventually develop an issue. Certain aspects of vision are easy to miss. If you only rely on your sight to indicate your eye health, you could miss the red flag that something is wrong. That’s why it’s essential to have your eyes checked.
Early eye care can help check your eyesight while catching any underlying medical condition. For instance, if you have high blood pressure, it could lead to problems with your eyes, and you might not even know it. Your blood pressure and other parts of your body all affect each other. When you don’t take care of one, it can affect the others.
Vision difficulties are a symptom of other health problems. If you have a problem with your central or peripheral vision, it can indicate the potential for stroke or different cardiovascular issues; it can even lead to dementia.
If you wear glasses or contacts, you should get an optometrist to look them over at least once a year. The prescriptions and coatings of the seasons can change over time. It only takes a few minutes, and it might be the best thing you do for your health.
Technology Worsens Eye Health
While technology is designed to make life easier, it can negatively impact your physical health when it’s not used the right way. With smartphones and computers, you can have a screen right in front of your face for hours. While it’s a great convenience, it can harm your retina.
Staring at a screen for too long can lead to dry eyes. The eyes need moisture to function correctly, and having your monitor too close to your eyeballs can make them dry. If you suffer from chronic red or itchy or burning or watery or puffy eyelids, it could signify something more serious.
Technology also requires the use of a lot of bright lights. Your eyes are especially susceptible to the blue light emitted from these devices. It’s the light that’s most damaging to the eyes because it doesn’t trigger the release of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that helps promote sleep. As a result, you might not be able to fall asleep at night.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Can Be Problematic
As we age, our bodies naturally don’t function as well as they used to. One of the parts of our brain that tend to decrease inactivity is the part responsible for visual processing. The part of the brain responsible for interpreting information, recognizing patterns, and reacting to visual cues, begins to deteriorate.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition. It is more common in older people, but it can appear in anyone. It occurs when retinal cells deteriorate. It leads to blurred vision in the center of the field of vision. This can cause people to miss objects they’re looking at.
AMD is a relatively common condition among people in their 60s or 70s. The risk goes up as you get older, and, sadly, there’s no known cure for it; this eye issue can also be hereditary. If your parents or grandparents suffered from it, you’re at a higher risk of developing it.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for it. However, early detection can help you manage it. There are several treatments, but it depends on how fast the disease progresses. If you catch it in time, you might be able to prevent it from getting worse.
Eye Surgery Later In Life Can Cause Discomfort
As we grow older, our body systems begin to change. Our joints and muscles start to weaken and distort. While the body’s ability to heal itself improves as you advance in age, the recovery process isn’t as fast.
If you’re over 50, your chances of needing eye surgery significantly increase. Cataracts are one of the most common conditions that cause the need for surgery. It occurs when the lens gets cloudy and typically occurs in older adults.
Although anyone can get it, it is more likely to occur in those with a family history of cataracts. By the time you reach 70, you have a 50% chance of developing this condition. People who are nearsighted or far-sighted can also have their eyes surgically corrected.
With eye surgery, there are risks, with the recovery time being more painful for older adults. Depending on the procedure, it could take weeks or even months to recover. The surgery is more uncomfortable, and it’s not uncommon to experience complications. If you can’t tolerate it, your doctor might recommend waiting until your conditions improve.
The Importance of Preventative Measures For Your Eyes
As you grow older, it becomes more important to have regular check-ups to ensure there aren’t any potential problems. If you start experiencing issues with your visual acuity or depth perception issues, you should seek medical attention.
While you can’t reverse the effects of poor habits, they can take years off your life. You can do things to reduce the likelihood of getting an eye disease, such as wearing sunglasses.
Have regular eye exams with your local optometry clinic. The eye doctor will assess the health of the retina and optic nerve. They will measure your visual acuity and check your depth perception. They will also check the pupil response and test the pressure in the eyes.
If you have diabetes, you should have an ophthalmologist examine you regularly. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness. It can damage blood vessels in vital organs, including the nerves of the eyes of your extremities.
Smoking cigarettes can significantly increase the risk of you having a serious health condition. Besides the damage to your lungs, it can also irritate the cornea. It can also damage the macula and result in the development of glaucoma.
The Bottom Line
It’s best to be proactive when it comes to your eye health. Get everything checked out when you can, and if you are already experiencing symptoms of a health issue, don’t wait to get it looked at.
Your vision is your most important sense, and you want to make sure you can see well for as long as possible. Develop a relationship with an excellent local eye care practice. They will help identify and treat any problems so you can continue to enjoy good vision and live a healthy life.
