Throughout our lifetime, our vision is constantly changing. During childhood, the highly sensitive newborn eyes we’re born with develop to allow us to view things at a distance, to tolerate light and to track movement. As we age, our eyes and vision continue to change, introducing uncomfortable symptoms for some.
Read this installment of the Be.Well. series to learn the importance of routine eye exams along with simple ways to prevent eye issues that may arise as you get older.
Age-related eye changes and disorders
As you age, you may notice the eye changes below:
- Dry eyes
- Difficulty reading fine print
- Cloudiness or colors becoming dimmer (usually resulting from cataracts)
- Increase in glare when light shines at you
- Decrease in night vision
Some changes occur naturally with aging and may simply be an annoyance to be ignored. Others, however, may adversely affect your lifestyle (e.g., no longer driving at night) and might indicate the development of significant eye disorders such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts. These disorders, when serious or left untreated, can lead to vision loss later in life.
How to protect your eyes and prevent eye conditions
Although everyone’s vision changes with age, there are many steps, including those below, you can take to protect your eyes and to prevent serious vision problems.
Get regular eye exams
Like an annual physical exam with your primary doctor, routine eye exams are an effective way to prevent or detect eye problems at an early stage. During these exams, after examining your eyes, you can expect your eye doctor to recommend any necessary vision correction treatment (i.e., glasses, contacts, etc.), to adjust prescriptions and to discuss causes of eye strain or fatigue.
The recommended frequency of eye exams depends on various factors like your age, family history of eye disease and current health. For example, those with diabetes or high blood pressure may have a greater risk of visual problems and may need more frequent specialized eye exams.
For covered participants, the Health Plan covers vision exams once a calendar year through its vision benefits provider, VSP Vision. Visit www.dgaplans.org/vision for additional vision benefits details.
Wear eyewear
When it comes to caring for your eyes, prescription glasses and contacts are not the only eyewear that counts. Whether completing chores around the house or enjoying a relaxing day at the beach, it’s important to consider whether you have the proper protective eyewear.
According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly half of all eye injuries occur at home performing simple tasks such as opening a bottle of celebratory champagne, cooking foods with splattering oil or cleaning the oven — activities most people likely wouldn’t consider risky. When doing home repairs (e.g., painting the house, cleaning high surfaces like the ceiling fan, etc.), remember to wear safety goggles to keep small particles from entering and damaging your eyes.
Equally important is protecting your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays when you are outdoors. Long-term exposure to these rays can increase your risk of the eye conditions mentioned previously, so make sure to wear UV-blocking sunglasses whenever you’re outside for more than a few minutes, even on cloudy days.
Give your eyes a break
If you regularly spend hours reading or staring at a computer, your eyes will likely experience strain and fatigue. This could cause symptoms like:
- dry or itchy eyes
- blurry or double vision
- squinting
- headaches
Research shows that computer-related strain may not have long-term consequences on your vision, but the aforementioned symptoms can be physically uncomfortable and can disrupt your work. To avoid eyestrain from intensive focus and digital glares, remember to give your eyes a break by:
- Blinking
- Practicing the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Avoiding your phone and other screens on your work breaks
- Adjusting your screen brightness so that it’s about half that of normal room lighting
- Wearing necessary eyeglasses while using technology.
