Let me tell you a story before we get into a serious discussion about eye health.
When I was in my forties, I discovered that my arms had grown excessively short! I had to hold whatever I was trying to read more and farther away from my face in order to focus. I considered getting a pair of readers.
When I told a coworker about it, he advised me to wait as long as possible before purchasing a pair of readers because I’d constantly need them once I had them. Perhaps I should have listened to him, but in the end, time would win out, and I’d have to rely on the readers to read anything.
Consider yourself fortunate if you’re a Baby Boomer who doesn’t require vision correction. We have a lot of alternatives when it comes to aging and maintaining eye health. It can be difficult, but if we know what indicators to watch for, we can prevent or at least slow the consequences of aging, allowing us to keep our healthy eyes as we grow older.
Eye health begins at the age of 40.
It is always vital to get a head start on preserving your eye health, regardless of your age. It may seem impossible to combine it with the many other obligations you face on a daily basis, but it is something to consider. When you start thinking about your eye health at a young age, you’ll be able to avoid problems later on.
If nothing else, you can share this knowledge with others who might find it useful. You can help to raise awareness about eye health and the significance of being tested early by spreading the word.
Many eye disorders, such as dry eyes, can manifest themselves in your 40s. Dry eyes, on the other hand, are not an age-related issue and can affect both men and women.
Preventative Actions
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that a baseline vision screening be performed starting at the age of 40. The ophthalmologist will be able to recognize and monitor eye issues more easily if they have a baseline. Before you turn 50, you should be evaluated at least every three years.
At 50, your eyes are in good shape.
Despite the fact that many people believe 50 looks like 30, your eyes will continue to alter as you get older. Presbyopia, which causes your close-up vision to deteriorate, is one problem that might develop. This will necessitate the purchase of near-vision glasses. Not only that, but as your eye’s photoreceptors age, your night vision may begin to deteriorate. Diabetes and high blood pressure are two other illnesses that might affect your vision.
Preventative Actions
- As baby boomers, you should focus on avoiding eye issues from occurring in the first place. This is avoiding stressful events that can elevate blood pressure, hence preventing hypertension retinopathy. You can also start controlling your diabetes and preventing diabetic retinopathy if you have it.
- Your ophthalmologist will be able to spot glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration earlier if you keep up with your yearly exams. Regular eye exams are an important component of keeping your eyes healthy.
- Eyelid skin cancer, cataracts, and macular degeneration can all be reduced by avoiding UV radiation. This form of protection can be obtained by wearing a good pair of sunglasses that will provide you with complete UV protection.
Eye Health in People Over 60
When you reach your 60s and 70s, you may notice a variety of new changes, such as retirement and increased travel. It will be critical for baby boomers to have good eyes in order to fully appreciate these experiences. This is why, as you become older, you need to be aware of the symptoms of glaucoma and macular degeneration. If you’ve been suffering signs of glaucoma or macular degeneration, such as blurriness, glare sensitivity, and/or impaired vision, see an ophthalmologist.
Preventative Actions
- It is critical to maintain a balanced diet and exercise routine as you age. Make sure you get adequate sleep as well, since this will aid in the maintenance of healthy eyes.
- Be aware of any potential pharmaceutical adverse effects. Corticosteroids, antimalarials, antihistamines, and antipsychotics are only a few of the known causes of vision impairment. If you’re taking any of them, talk to your doctor about changing your medication.
- It is critical to constantly know how to care for your healthy eyes, regardless of your age. Growing older, on the other hand, has its drawbacks, and the chance of eyesight loss is increasing all the time. This is why it’s critical that you maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes proper eating, exercise, and yearly checkups in order to continue seeing the world the way it was designed to be viewed.
Retinopathy and Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Retinopathy is a condition where the eyes are being gradually damaged by a disease or by age. Age-related macular degeneration is still under the retinopathy discussion but is dealt with separately.
One of the most common types of retinopathy is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is both a type 1 and type 2 diabetes complication that happens when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing vision impairment.
Another type of retinopathy that is common is hypertensive retinopathy. From the word itself “hypertensive”, this suggests an eye condition that is caused by high blood pressure. In hypertensive retinopathy, high blood pressure is causing the damage to the retina’s blood vessels.
A study that was published by a peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Medicine in July of 2007 shows that omega 3 fatty acids may protect against the progression of retinopathy. The trial design includes feeding a group of mice with higher concentrations of omega 3. The result of the experiment shows an almost 50% reduction in retinopathy.
Kip M. Connor, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said that omega 3 fatty acids are abundant in the human retina. “It would only take a 2% change in dietary omega 3 intake to effect a 40-50% reduction in retinopathy severity”, he added.
Are You Getting The Recommended Daily Intake of Omega 3?
The recommended daily intake of omega 3 for baby boomers is 1,600 mg for males and 1,100 mg for females.
For some of us who are on a hectic schedule and don’t have time to cook, or simply don’t like eating fish, getting omega 3 may only be possible through fish oil supplements. Another good source of high quality omega 3 is krill oil.
You may want to check Super Heroes Over 50’s natural health products: krill oil and fish oil supplement.
