You’ve probably heard it before: Prevention and early detection are key to keeping aging eyes healthy throughout the years.

As you age, several changes occur in your eyes that can affect your vision. Aging eyes can become weak, dry, or strained, resulting in changes to your eye care regimen.

The good news is that you don’t have to let vision issues rule your life as you get older. There are steps you can take to protect and maintain your vision well into your senior years.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, approximately 10% of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision. It is a group of eye diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve (which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain) and often leads to vision loss and blindness. Usually caused by a buildup of pressure in the eye, anyone can develop glaucoma, although the condition is linked to certain risk factors:

• Elevated internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Being over 60
• A family history of glaucoma
• Chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure
• Thyroid disease
• Severe eye injuries or eye surgeries

Glaucoma is not curable, and vision loss cannot be regained. With medication and/or surgery, it is possible to halt further loss of vision. Since open-angle glaucoma is a chronic condition, it must be monitored for life. Screening is the first step to preserving your vision. Here’s when to be screened:

• Age 40-55: Adults with no risk factors should have an initial screening exam at 40, then every 2 to 4 years.
• Age 55-65: Should be screened every 1 to 3 years.
• Age 65+: Should be screened every 1 to 2 years.
• Those who have a higher risk should be screened more frequently.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the most frequent cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40 and the leading cause of blindness worldwide. There are actually more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are of glaucoma.

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye lens that naturally occurs as we get older, due to a buildup of protein on the lens. While the condition is most common in those over age 60, cataracts are not only caused by age. Environmental factors such as exposure to UV rays, smoking, and drinking alcohol may also increase the chances of developing cataracts. Some babies are born with cataracts due to genetic defects and developmental issues. While there is no sure-fire way to prevent cataracts, living as healthy a lifestyle as you can reduce your risks of getting them.

Although cataracts are extremely common, they are typically treated through a painless, safe, and quick procedure that replaces the cataract with a clear artificial lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed each year and is highly successful in restoring vision.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)

About 30% of those older than 75 have ARMD. It is a disease that damages part of your retina. The retina is the layer of cells, nerves, and blood vessels behind your eyes that sends images to your brain so you can see.

At the center of each retina is a small area called the macula. While the rest of the retina provides you with side vision (peripheral vision), the macula provides central vision, so you can see what is straight in front of you. Your macula also enables you to see details. You use your macula when you read, recognize a face, see road signs or traffic signals while driving a car, or watch television or a movie. ARMD damages your macula.

Macular degeneration often has no warning symptoms, which is why having regular eye exams and talking with your eye doctor about vision changes is so important, especially after age 40. If you are at risk for macular degeneration, be sure to see an eye care specialist for a complete eye exam at least every one to two years.

When to see an eye doctor

You might think that if you are healthy and not having any vision issues, there’s no need to visit your eye doctor. But everyone, no matter their age or how healthy they think they are, should have an annual eye checkup.

If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, be sure to see your eye doctor:

• Blurry vision or seeing double
• Trouble reading signs or books
• Pain or redness of the eye that doesn’t go away
• Feeling pressure in your eye
• Seeing spots or floaters
• Loss of peripheral or side vision

Eye health tips

Maintaining your eye health begins in your 20s and 30s, but it’s never too late to start. Here are some tips for keeping healthy eyes in your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond:

• Have regular eye exams
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet
• Exercise regularly, which can address health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, that are linked to eye conditions
• Shield your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays with sunglasses
• Stop smoking
• Wash your hands
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Limit your use of electronic and blue light devices
• Wear protective eyewear if you play sports