“Vision loss” is one of the major health threats which can crop up among the elderly people starting at the age of 65. To make the matters worse, a high percentage of the population remains unaware of the vision impairment which initiates without any warning signs. Vision loss can take place due to any age related disease, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
‘Cataracts’ characterized by clouding of the eyes lens eventually results in blurry vision. Mostly driven by the factors like age, it could also result from eye trauma, certain medications, and various environmental and lifestyle factors. Additionally, some cataracts are congenital. This cloud continues to grow and interfere with vision. The effect of diabetes on the eye termed as ‘Diabetic Retinopathy’ occur in most of the diabetic patients after approximately 20 years.
‘Glaucoma’, another leading cause of blindness, usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms at first, but a comprehensive eye exam can detect it. ‘Age Related Macular Degeneration’ affects the Macula, the part of the eye that allows us to see fine detail.
The above various vision generating diseases advance so gradually that people remain unaware of their advancements, leading to the loss of vision in both the eyes. This not only hampers the common activities like driving and reading but also gives a major jolt to the confidence which occurs at the permanent vision loss. This makes the comprehensive baseline eye exam to be indispensable in strive to lead the life normally.
The ‘American Academy of Ophthalmology’ recommends visit to an ophthalmologist for a baseline eye disease screening at age 40-the time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. The appropriate length of time between the eye checkups could only be scheduled by the ophthalmologist after the completion of the initial screening of the vision. This is a more serious matter of concern for the individuals, carrying the family history of eye disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.
The general estimation is that by the year 2020, almost 43 million Americans will face significant vision loss or blindness from the above listed age-related eye diseases. In spite of these alarming statistics, there is prevalent a general disregard towards the initial signs of the ailments. A survey conducted by the Academy for its ‘EyeSmart Campaign’ reveals that less than a quarter of Americans, nearly 23% , are very concerned about losing their vision, while a majority feel weight gain or joint and back pain are of greater concern than vision loss.
This simply implies the significance of reaching out to people, spreading a general awareness among them about the importance to be attached to regular eye screening. Early detection of vision problems can bring a major difference in the world, the sighted world versus the world of darkness.