Increasing age is another risk factor for physical degeneration in many aspects, including “eye health problems”
Similarly, changes occur in vision, reduced eye muscle function, decreased sensitivity in seeing images, dry and irritated eyes, pterygium, cataracts, and glaucoma. These can also negatively affect other health aspects, such as causing dizziness, reduced quality of life, and importantly, increasing the risk of accidents, falls, and injuries due to vision problems.
5 Common Eye Diseases in the Elderly
Many eye disorders in the elderly cannot be detected by observing symptoms alone. It is necessary to have a thorough eye examination. One should regularly observe any abnormalities themselves, and family members should frequently ask about symptoms or observe any unusual signs in the elderly, especially if some elderly individuals are reluctant to share their symptoms with their family.
1. Dry Eye Syndrome
“Dry eye syndrome” is a common eye condition in the elderly due to decreased quality of tears. The tear film is insufficient to keep the eyes moist because of malfunctioning tear glands or excessive tear evaporation. This often results from age-related degeneration of the tear glands, blocked oil glands in the eyelids, hormonal changes, or other underlying diseases such as thyroid disease, arthritis, or the use of certain medications. This causes eye irritation, a sensation of a foreign body in the eye, burning, and possibly corneal abrasions. Elderly people may experience chronic discomfort and worsened vision, which can lead to accidents.
2. Cataracts
“Cataracts” are a common degeneration found in everyone as they age, typically after 60 years old. It is caused by clouding of the lens inside the eye, reducing the amount of light entering the eye and causing vision changes. This is an age-related degeneration and certainly affects visual ability. Elderly people may experience blurred vision like looking through fog, double images, or halos around lights. Glasses do not improve vision, which can lead to misjudging steps or walking down stairs incorrectly, causing falls. Cataracts can be treated by surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. Nowadays, this can be done quickly with advanced tools, causing minimal pain and fast recovery, improving the quality of life for the elderly and reducing accidents.
3. Glaucoma
“Glaucoma” is less common than cataracts but is a serious disease that can cause blindness. It is a silent eye disease with no early warning symptoms and can cause permanent vision loss without the elderly realizing it. It results from degeneration of the optic nerve, often associated with high intraocular pressure damaging the nerve. The risk increases in people over 40 years old, those with a family history of glaucoma, steroid use, severe nearsightedness or farsightedness, eye injuries, or other underlying diseases such as diabetes, migraines, or sleep apnea.
If eye health screening is neglected, it may lead to permanent vision loss. Caregivers can observe if the elderly are facing glaucoma by noting behaviors such as frequently bumping into tables or objects and dropping things due to narrowed visual fields. They should be taken to see an ophthalmologist promptly before it is too late. Treatment options include medication, laser therapy, or surgery depending on the severity of the disease.
4. Age-related Macular Degeneration
“Age-related macular degeneration” is a common cause of permanent blindness in the elderly. It results from age-related degeneration affecting the central part of the retina, which is the area responsible for the sharpest vision.
It is divided into two types: wet and dry. Wet AMD occurs due to abnormal blood vessels behind the retina leaking fluid into the macula, causing severe and sudden vision loss, often permanent. Dry AMD progresses slowly, with early symptoms including blurred vision and dark or blind spots in the center of vision. Over time, retinal cells gradually degenerate, leading to permanent vision loss. Treatment is possible if the condition is diagnosed early. However, macular degeneration often shows no symptoms without detailed examination. Therefore, caregivers are advised to take elderly individuals for annual eye health check-ups.
5. Presbyopia
Presbyopia in the elderly results from decreased focusing ability of the eye muscles. It occurs in everyone over 40 years old, causing difficulty seeing close objects clearly and slower focus adjustment. Reading or working at close distances becomes harder, and straining to focus can cause eye pain and headaches. It can be treated with glasses to reduce eye strain or LASIK surgery, depending on the ophthalmologist’s judgment.
Thorough eye screening in the elderly helps identify the true condition of the eyes. Early detection allows treatment and slows vision loss, reducing the risk of accidents. Family members should pay attention and care for the health of the elderly.
To ensure the elderly have a good and happy quality of life, those aged 40 and above should have an eye health check at least once a year.
