Three Common Age Related Eye Conditions that are Easily Treatable

For all age groups, there are eye conditions that can range from inconvenient to sight threatening, but it is the older generation that tends to suffer the most from sight impairment. That is somewhat understandable, particularly since the eyes are used so intensely over such a long period of time.

Many of the 50 years and over age group face some of the most serious conditions, most of which require eye surgery, whether laser or traditional. But while the list can be long, there are three in particular that are quite commonly developed in old age. These are diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and wet and dry macular degeneration, treatment for each is easily available.

Macular Degeneration

Most of those who suffer from macular degeneration are aged over 50 and, within this group, sight loss is most commonly attributed to this eye disease. The macula is at the centre of the retina and allows the eye to see more sharply the details in our vision

As the name of the condition suggests, the macula in the eye degenerates over the years, until finally the detail in our sight is lost leaving objects distorted and blurred. Think of the reading chart that people must read when opticians are assessing the strength of their prescription lenses. As he or she reads downward, as the words get smaller, they blur. Normally, the younger the person, the lower down the list they can read, while the older they are the higher their vision will begin to fuzz up and the words become illegible.

There are two types of the condition, however, with the dry form accounting for 90 per cent of cases, and wet macular degeneration the remainder. Dry cases develop slowly over a long period of time and can be operated on.

Wet cases, meanwhile, are rare and develop over a much shorter period of time. Abnormal blood vessels develop and leak, damaging the retina on the eye wall, causing severe swelling. These are usually treated with injections of highly effective anti VEGF drugs into the eye.

Diabetic Retinopathy

In truth, anyone with diabetes can have conditions of the eye, but many people who were not diagnosed with diabetes when young can go on to develop the disease later in life. Statistically, diabetics are more likely to develop glaucoma or cataracts than non diabetics, but diabetes can also affect the retina of the eye quite severely.

The first stage of the condition is referred to as background diabetic retinopathy and involves the development of small haemorrhages that look like small dots. However, sight is not in danger at this early stage.

The second stage is called diabetic maculopathy, which involves leaking blood vessels that swell the retina. This particular type is common in Type 2 diabetes and can affect the 50 years plus age bracket. The condition can progress quickly, which means that sight is at risk if it is not treated.

Another stage to the disease is proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which is when haemorrhaging can leak into the vitreous gel in the middle of the eye. This is caused when abnormal vessels on the retina are grown in response to a shortage of oxygen, but which end up bleeding into the eye. It is common amongst Type 1 diabetics. Should bleeding lead to scarring then the scar tissue can damage the retina and lead to complete blindness.

Treatment for all of these conditions can vary, depending on their severity, and it is normal to have eye tests carried out, including OCT retinal scanning, before deciding on the course of action. Lasers are used to treat second stage symptoms, with steroid injections another option. Laser burns are also applied to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. If there is bleeding in the vitreous gel, then a vitrectomy is necessary, where the bloodied gel is removed.

Cataracts

This condition is very common, with around 66 per cent of people over 60 suffering from cataracts. As eye conditions go, these are more inconvenient than sight threatening, with the chief symptom being clouded vision, though it can progress to blindness.

While the early stage of the condition can be treated with glasses, the more advanced it becomes the more necessary eye surgery becomes. Cataract surgery involves using an ultra sound to break up the lens that has clouded over, and then replaced by a permanent artificial lens. The process is quick and easy, taking only about 20 minutes on each eye, almost as simple as dry macular degeneration treatment.

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Iain Jenkins - About the Author:

Ian Jenkins writes articles explaining how eye surgeons can treat eye conditions using methods such as lasik, refractive lens exchange and laser eye surgery. As well as traditionally treating glaucoma, laser eye surgery is also a dry macular degeneration treatment.