What to Look For / What to Do
Tips for Any Age: Healthy Eating, Exercising and More
Age-related eye changes and the baseline exam
Early signs of age-related eye diseases, including cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, can begin in midlife but often do not noticeably affect the vision until later. So it’s important to get a baseline comprehensive eye exam at age 40, even for people who have no symptoms or known risk factors. Your Eye M.D. will recommend follow-up exams based on your family history and the results of the baseline exam.
By age 65, one in three Americans will have a vision-impairing eye disease. The earlier these are discovered and treatment begins, the better the chance of preserving good vision.
Systemic health problems
Systemic health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes that may be diagnosed or become more problematic in midlife can also affect eye health. One warning sign of both high blood pressure and diabetes is when the ability to see clearly changes frequently. Be sure to keep your Eye M.D. informed about your health conditions and use of medications/nutritional supplements, as well as your exercise, eating, sleeping, and other lifestyle choices.
Dry Eye
This uncomfortable condition becomes more common as people age. Women are more susceptible after menopause due to hormonal changes, but incidence also increases for men as they grow older. It is usually treated with over-the-counter or prescription eye lubricants. If dry eye is severe, surgery to reduce tear drainage may be needed.
- If you have contact lenses, follow the use guidelines and avoid wearing lenses longer than recommended. If dry eye persists, talk to your Eye M.D. about possible treatments.
- Discuss dry eye treatment with your Eye M.D. if planning to have LASIK or other refractive surgery.
- Some medications increase dry eye. If you are taking pain relievers, antidepressants, antihistamines, or have questions about your medications, talk with your Eye M.D.
- Some research suggests that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) may reduce or help prevent dry eye.
- See the sections on computer use and on sleep.
- Protect eyes with wrap-around sunglasses and avoid smoky, arid, dusty or windy conditions.
Eye Injuries
Almost half of eye injuries happen in or around the home. Home improvement or cleaning activities, yard work, and sports or recreation all present a risk to the unprotected eye. Ninety percent of injuries can be prevented by using appropriate protective eyewear, so every household needs to have at least one pair of certified safety glasses on hand.
Sun Safety
Protect your eyes from over-exposure to the sun’s UV rays to minimize your risk of cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and other eye problems. Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. Help your children and elderly relatives be sun safe, also.
LASIK and refractive surgery
It’s fine to consider LASIK in your 40s; be aware that currently the procedure does not correct for presbyopia, so reading glasses will probably still be necessary. Also keep in mind that LASIK is surgery and like all surgery involves risks that you should be aware of in making your decision.
Flashes and Floaters
In most cases, experiencing spots ("floaters") in your visual field is not an emergency, especially if you have experienced them over a number of years. Floaters tend to increase in number as we age. However, if you experience a sudden increase in floaters or if they occur with bright flashes of light, it could signal a retinal detachment or tear - serious conditions that require immediate treatment by your Eye M.D.
Last reviewed and updated in August, 2009,
by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
