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Detecting Eye Diseases and Conditions

As our population ages, vision loss from eye diseases is increasing.

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI):

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About 3.3 million Americans age 40 or over are blind or have low vision. This is about 1 in every 28 people.
By 2020, that number could be 5.5 million -- a 60% increase.

NEI has identified the most common eye diseases in people over age 40:

Age-related macular degeneration
Cataracts
Diabetic eye disease
Glaucoma

Here's what you should know about these threats to your eyesight.

Your Eyes and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration -- or AMD -- damages then destroys central vision. Central vision is your "straight-ahead," finely detailed vision. This eye disease takes two forms, "dry" and "wet." About 90% of AMD cases are dry. The remaining 10% are "wet," a more advanced form. Wet AMD is more damaging, causing about 90% of serious vision loss.

Who's at Risk for AMD?

People at risk for AMD include those who:

Are over age 60
Have high blood pressure (hypertension)
Smoke
Are obese
Are white (Caucasian) and female
Have a family history of AMD

Symptoms of AMD

AMD is painless. It may worsen slowly or rapidly. Dry AMD may affect central vision within a few years. Wet AMD can cause sudden and dramatic changes in vision. In either case, early detection and treatment are key to slowing vision loss. See your eye doctor right away if you notice:

Straight lines appearing wavy, a symptom of wet AMD
Blurred central vision, the most common dry-AMD symptom
Trouble seeing things in the distance
Problems seeing colors correctly
Difficulty seeing details, like faces or words on a page
Dark or "blank" spots blocking your central vision

Treatment of AMD

Wet AMD treatment may include:

Laser surgery
Photodynamic therapy
Special drug injections

Dry AMD treatment is aimed at monitoring or slowing the progression of the disease. Vision loss from advanced dry AMD cannot be prevented. But taking certain dietary supplements may help stabilize the disease in some patients. An NEI study showed that taking high doses of the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, along with zinc, may help slow AMD progression in cases of:

Intermediate AMD
High risk of progressing to advanced AMD
Advanced AMD in just one eye

However, this regimen did not prevent AMD onset or slow its progression in early-stage disease.

Steps to Prevent AMD

These preventive steps may help keep AMD at bay:

Eat more leafy green vegetables and fish.
Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
Don't smoke.
Check your blood pressure regularly. Get treatment if your blood pressure is too high.

Your Eyes and Cataracts

A cataract is an eye condition in which the eye's normally clear lens becomes cloudy. It eventually occurs in both eyes but may be more noticeable in one eye first. Since less light passes through a cloudy lens, vision blurs. Cataracts are small at first and may not affect vision. But the denser they grow, the more they affect your vision.