Healthy living
Body matters
Eye conditions
Problems with eyesight become more common with advancing years, so make sure you have regular checks and know the signs that matter
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
What is it?
The most common cause of poor sight in people aged 60 plus. It is caused by degeneration of the macula, the part of the eye that distinguishes fine detail. There are two types – ‘wet’ and ‘dry’. Sufferers usually have enough side (peripheral) vision to get around, but driving, reading and watching television may become difficult or impossible.
The symptoms
- Initially blurring, shadowy areas in your central vision or distorted vision
- Later on a gradually enlarging central blind spot
- Eventually the condition stabilises
Risk factors
- Age AMD becomes more common as we get older
- Gender Women are more at risk than men.
- Genes There are several genes which may be involved.
- Smoking.
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- Poor nutrition. Low levels of antioxidant nutrients may be a factor
Treatment
Your GP or optometrist should be able to refer you to a local low vision service. You are likely to need help to learn to use your peripheral vision so you can make the most of your remaining sight. Using magnifiers can help. ‘Wet’ macular degeneration can sometimes be treated by laser.
Cataract
What is it?
Clouding of the part of the eye called the lens. It happens when the protein fibres that make up the lens undergo chemical changes, a process is similar to that which takes place in the white of an egg as it is cooked.
Symptoms
- Blurred or misty vision
- Your spectacles may appear dirty or scratched even when they are clean
- Being dazzled by the sun or car headlights
- Colours may appear washed out or faded
Risk factors
- Age
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- A diet low in fruit and vegetables
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- High blood pressure
Treatment
A simple operation to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a plastic one (intraocular lens implant) can be performed. In the past surgeons often used to wait until vision had deteriorated quite severely before operating. However today it is usually done as soon as poor eyesight interferes with daily life. The operation is carried out under local anaesthetic.
Glaucoma
What is it? Damage to the optic nerve often but not always caused by raised pressure inside the eyeball. There are several types but the most common is chronic glaucoma, which develops slowly.
The symptoms
- Initially loss of vision is usually in the shape of an arc just above and/or below the centre when looking straight ahead
- As the condition progresses the blank area spreads outwards and inwards
- Eventually the centre of vision is affected leading to ‘tunnel vision’
Risk factors
- Age. Glaucoma affects 5 per cent of people over 65
- Race. You are more likely to develop glaucoma if you are of Black African origin
- Family. If you have a close relative (brother, sister, father or mother) with glaucoma you have a higher risk of developing it yourself and should have checks every two years
- Short sightedness
- Diabetes
Treatment
- Eye drops to reduce pressure in the eye
- Laser treatment
- An operation called a trabeculectomy to improve drainage of fluid from the eye
Useful websites
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
