Rumyantseva Anna Grigorievna
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How older man– the more obvious are the changes in the visual apparatus, which reduce visual acuity and can lead to certain ophthalmological diseases.
As you age, you need to pay more attention to your eye health to maintain it for the rest of your life..
Despite the fact that prevention does not completely stop the degradation processes and restore vision, you should not only be prepared for such changes, but also try to postpone them for as long as possible.
Almost every person experiences age-related changes in vision after 40 years of age under the influence of many factors.:
Many of these factors cannot be avoided, but it is possible to slow down the age-related changes that arise as consequences.
Major age-related eye diseases
It is believed that with age, eye changes result only in myopia or farsightedness, but these are only the most common phenomena.
In fact Elderly people also encounter other problems that are not typical for young people.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a complex of age-related changes in the organs of vision. The result is deterioration.
Basically this term means age-related decreases in the accommodative functions of the lens, the structure of which changes over the years.
In each case, the course of presbyopia occurs differently and can manifest itself in the first years in the form of glaucoma, and over time be expressed in progressive myopia and senile cataracts.
Regular examinations with an ophthalmologist and therapeutic measures can stop these processes.
Important! As a result of observations of elderly patients who began timely treatment when signs of presbyopia appeared, it was possible to establish that despite changes in the structure of the lens, this phenomenon can be stopped, and the acuity can be partially restored.
Cataract
70% of older people develop senile cataracts. The reason for this is reduction in the structure of the eyes of amino acids, proteins and a decrease in the number of active enzymes, providing protection and normal functioning of the eye. As a result, it begins lens clouding process.
Highlight four stages of this disease:
- Initial ( slight turbidity, in some cases myopia begins to develop).
- Immature ( visual acuity slowly decreases, the lens increases in size, clouding continues).
- Mature (due to fluid loss the lens is now shrinking in volume, object vision, which allows you to distinguish objects, their colors and shapes, is lost).
- Overripe ( the lens noticeably shrinks, and the number and density of turbid masses in its structure increases).
In the final stages, the lens becomes whitish and cloudy, and vision may be almost completely absent, but such cases when the ability to distinguish between light and dark remains are extremely rare.
Attention! The development of glaucoma without treatment always leads to vision loss.
Glaucoma
In old age, problems arise with intraocular pressure, which increases greatly due to physiological changes in the organs of vision.
This leads to deterioration of vision, as the imbalance of internal and external pressure leads to effects on the lens and retina.
According to statistics Three out of a hundred people aged 70 years and older suffer from this disease. At the age of 45, these figures are slightly lower and amount to only one percent.
Diabetic retinopathy
Damage to the blood vessels of the retina is called diabetic retinopathy.
This happens with type 1 diabetes: patients who were diagnosed with this disease 20 years ago or earlier are always susceptible to developing this disease.
Wherein patients with type 2 diabetes have a 50% chance of avoiding diabetic retinopathy.
Important! Often the most serious consequence of such a disease is blindness, but timely examinations and following the recommendations of ophthalmologists can avoid this.
What changes in the eyes with age?
Deterioration of vision with age is associated with physiological changes affecting the organs of vision. Such changes affect the size of the pupil, which increases until 10-12 years, after which it only decreases over the years.
If in childhood the diameter of the pupil is about 5 millimeters, then by the age of forty it decreases to 3-4 millimeters, and by old age it decreases in size to one or two millimeters.
Changes also affect the functioning of the glands responsible for tear production. With age, these organs work worse, tear fluid is produced in smaller quantities, which leads to dryness of the eyeball.
This leads to irritation and redness, but using special moisturizing drops such painful manifestations can be avoided.
Over the years, a person's field of vision decreases: by the age of 70, people have largely lost their peripheral vision.
IN Everyday life this may not play a special role for full-fledged work and does not cause discomfort, but if you need to cover many surrounding objects with your gaze (for example, while driving a car), narrowing the field of view may not allow you to notice objects that are not directly in focus.
Due to the decrease in the cells in the retina responsible for the perception and discrimination of colors, it becomes more difficult for a person over the years to distinguish shades, while the brightness of colors in general decreases.
Despite the fact that these processes are characteristic of every person, they develop most quickly in those who throughout their lives have had to work in areas related to color perception (artists, photographers, designers).
Important! The most serious age-related change is vitreous detachment. Unlike detachment of the retina itself, this may not cause discomfort or affect vision, but if such a disease develops in old age, complete loss of vision is possible.
General prevention of vision after 40-50 years
If you notice age-related vision loss, what should you do?
When vision deteriorates with age, one cannot be satisfied with the explanation that this is an inevitable consequence for people in the older age group.
If you don't want to wear glasses, some preventive measures can significantly slow down the decline in the quality and acuity of vision:
- Taking breaks from work, which involves the eyes, you can achieve a reduction in fatigue and tension, which will have a positive effect on the quality of vision.
- Charger and eye gymnastics greatly slows down the degenerative processes in the tissues of the eye.
- Lack of sleep affects not only the functioning of the brain, but also the condition of the eyes: good rest and good sleep can slow down the destruction of eye tissue.
- Proper nutrition plays an important role in the condition of the eye: the absence of harmful foods and a large amount of plant foods help slow down the degradation of the optic nerve.
Attention! If necessary, you can take vitamins and use vitamin eye drops, which will have a positive effect on your eyes. But it is not recommended to prescribe such treatment for yourself.
Useful video
From this video you will learn more about age-related changes and whether you need to wear glasses after 40 years:
As you age, you need to check with an ophthalmologist more often. even when the first signs of change appear. This will help you see well into old age and avoid serious problems that could lead to blindness.
In contact with
Presbyopia sooner or later develops in all people, this is due to the fact that the main eye lens, the crystalline lens, loses its elasticity and cannot provide sufficient sharpness when looking at close objects. To read small print, people with age-related farsightedness are forced to use “plus” reading glasses, which is extremely inconvenient: glasses have to be carried with them almost everywhere, and forgotten glasses at home or broken ones can make life extremely difficult.
Unfortunately, it is not only presbyopia that can bother people who have crossed the threshold of 40 years of age. Other “popular” age-related eye diseases include clouding of the lens (cataract) and increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma).
A decrease in the transparency of the lens is associated with a disruption of metabolic processes in its tissues and the appearance inside it of cloudy areas of varying sizes. At first, the number of such areas is small, but over the years their size and intensity increase, and the eye lens gradually loses its transparency. A person suffering from cataracts has difficulty seeing details of objects and has difficulty reading or writing. In advanced stages of cataracts, vision decreases so much that surgery is no longer possible.
Visual discomfort, rapid eye fatigue, heaviness in the orbital area may be manifestations of increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma). The insidiousness of this disease is that for a long period of time the patient may not be bothered by anything. At the same time, pathological changes occurring in the structures of the eye against the background high blood pressure, worsen, causing progressive vision loss. Increased intraocular pressure causes atrophy of the optic nerve fibers. The outcome may be complete blindness; in this case, it will be impossible to restore vision.
The risk of developing age-related eye pathologies increases in proportion to the years we live: the older we get, the greater the likelihood of developing presbyopia, cataracts and glaucoma. Adhering to a regime of visual stress, choosing optimal lighting, nutritious nutrition, eye exercises, dosed doses help to delay the onset of various eye diseases. physical exercise. You should regularly (at least 1-2 times a year) visit an ophthalmologist and carefully follow all his recommendations. If the doctor has prescribed drug treatment, in no case should you violate the regimen of use medicines, and also exclude or add medications at your own discretion.
At the initial stage, most age-related eye pathologies do not require surgical intervention. The treatment regimen usually includes drug therapy, including homeopathic medicines, acupressure, ultrasound and laser treatments, and magnetic therapy. These methods are aimed at normalizing metabolic processes in various structures of the eyeball, improving its blood supply and hydrodynamics.
One of effective methods, used to maintain eye health into old age, is visual color therapy. The method of pulsed color stimulation of the visual analyzer, which showed excellent results in clinical experiments, formed the basis for the creation of the Vizulon device, which is successfully used in the complex therapy of age-related eye diseases. This is a completely physiological and scientifically based method that helps improve the quality of life and improve the results of drug treatment.
The method of pulsed color stimulation of the visual analyzer, which showed excellent results in clinical experiments, formed the basis for the creation of the Vizulon device.
It was found that visual color therapy using the Vizulon device improves metabolic processes in the tissues of the eye, normalizes hemodynamics, eliminates swelling and excess tension in the eye muscles. Indications for the use of Vizulon in patients over 40 years of age include the initial stages of cataracts and glaucoma, dysfunction of the optic nerve, and relief of visual tension in patients with age-related farsightedness.
The device contains a set of patented programs that include combinations of light pulses that differ in color, frequency and brightness. Available special programs, developed taking into account the visual characteristics of older people.
The Vizulon device is based on a scientifically proven method of bioresonance therapy - a safe and reliable drug-free method of healing the visual system and the entire body, which has demonstrated high efficiency. "Vizulon" is certified and has full set permitting documentation.
Treatment is carried out at home and does not require much time. The device is compact in size and equipped with battery, so you can easily take it with you to the dacha or on a trip. Treatment sessions using the Vizulon device should be carried out twice a day, their duration is only 10 - 15 minutes. The effect of using the Vizulon device can be felt from the first session. The recommended duration of one course is 2 weeks, the total number of courses is individual. By using the Vizulon device, you can increase the effectiveness of other treatment methods and significantly reduce the number of medications used.
Please note that the Vizulon device cannot replace the treatment prescribed by the attending physician!
Our expert - ophthalmologist, candidate of medical sciences Marina Semenova.
Alarming symptoms
Even in a completely healthy person, after 40 years, the optics and refraction of the eye change: the lens thickens, becomes less flexible, the muscles that hold it weaken, and it can no longer change its curvature as before - that is, accommodation deteriorates (the ability of the eye to change the focal length) .
This is a natural physiological process, and its consequences manifest themselves in different ways. In the first place is the problem of age-related farsightedness. Its symptoms: the eyes begin to get tired, headaches appear, but most importantly - deteriorating vision close range. Farsightedness that progresses over the years causes a disruption in the outflow of eye fluid, which can subsequently lead to glaucoma.
Doesn't it apply to nearsighted people?
It is believed that in myopic people, with age, the minus changes to a plus. Nothing like this! There is only one exception to the rule, and even that is a weak one. If a person’s myopia was no more than three diopters, then with age a shift in refraction towards farsightedness is possible: you can read, work at a monitor without glasses or lenses, but for distance viewing you will definitely need them. With moderate and high myopia (more than minus 6), a person does not experience symptoms of farsightedness at all.
People with a long history of myopia accumulate a number of complications with age. Almost 80% of them after 40 years have problems with the retina, since myopia is accompanied by an enlargement of the eyeball, which leads to its stretching. And this is fraught with thinning and ruptures of the retina, although a person may not notice any symptoms of a dangerous condition. Therefore, in case of myopia after 35 years of age, it is necessary to check the condition of the fundus once a year, and at an older age – once every six months. And if retinal breaks are detected, glue them together using laser coagulation, otherwise detachment may occur - a serious complication that leads to blindness. In old age, myopia is often complicated by cataracts.
Lenses or glasses?
Many people think: you need to go without glasses for as long as possible, because if you put them on, your eyes will begin to get lazy, and your vision will deteriorate faster. In fact, the sooner you start correcting your vision, the better. The visual apparatus will be protected from unnecessary stress, which will preserve eye vigilance for years.
Which is better - contact lenses or glasses? On the one hand, lenses are, of course, more convenient: due to their fit, they provide high clarity of visibility and a wider field of view. Finally, unlike glasses, they do not fog up or glare. But the older a person is, the more difficult it is for him to use lenses: with age, most people change the composition of tears, the regeneration of the epithelium covering the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye, the elasticity of the lens and eyelids, and the use of lenses becomes less comfortable. And the fingers of older people are no longer so sensitive and dexterous; it is now more difficult for them to insert or remove lenses.
The choice of most people who have crossed middle age is glasses. But there comes a time when you suddenly discover: regardless of whether you are farsighted or nearsighted, you see equally poorly both far and near. Then the doctor prescribes two pairs of glasses - for near and for distance. Although using two pairs of glasses is, of course, inconvenient.
Correction without errors
There is an exit. Two pairs are combined into one by bifocal glasses, the glasses of which have two zones of vision correction, that is, there is an insert segment on the glass. Although this is not entirely convenient: the transition from zone to zone is quite abrupt. These glasses take some getting used to. In modern optics there is another option - the so-called progressive multifocal glasses. They are much more physiological, since they do not have visible boundaries between the correction zones and the change in the optical power of vision in them occurs gradually. Their only drawback is their high price.
What about surgery? And there are options here. For farsightedness, for example, the original lens can be replaced with a special multifocal lens. This operation is similar to what is done for cataracts, implanting an artificial lens. It can be done at any age, but, unfortunately, it is practically inaccessible for older people due to its high cost. And laser correction of myopia is carried out only up to 45 years of age. In addition, it will not protect against the development of farsightedness in the future.
Gymnastics for the eyes
Although age-related changes in vision are inevitable, it is quite possible to slow down this process. Our eyes are under enormous stress: artificial lighting, a flickering monitor screen, long hours behind the wheel, a rigid urban layout that tires the eye with its monotony - all this does not add to our vigilance. Exercise helps relieve severe tension. Here are a few simple exercises. Try to do them once an hour, taking a break from work.
● Sit up straight. Look into the distance, fixing your gaze on some object. Move your gaze to a nearby point. Move your gaze left and right several times, mentally drawing a figure eight with your eyes, first vertically, then horizontally. Repeat the exercise 3-10 times.
● Close your eyes, imagine that your eyelids are pressing on your eyeballs. Count to five, open your eyes. Repeat several times. This helps relax the eye muscles.
● Massage your closed eyelids for a few seconds, pressing lightly with your fingers. At the same time, the spent intraocular moisture will be removed from the eyes and will be replaced by fresh one, which will bring vitamins and microelements.
● Close your eyes, slowly tilt your neck toward your shoulders, touch your chin to your chest, and then move your head back. Repeat 4-5 times. This exercise improves blood circulation in the eyes and eliminates tension in the cervical vertebrae.
By the way
The eyes are often compared to a photographic lens; they react very sensitively to the strength and quality of lighting. Try to work less under artificial light. If you have to spend long hours at the computer, reduce the screen brightness and use moisturizing drops to prevent dry corneas. A very important factor for maintaining good vision is natural vitamins that improve blood circulation and metabolic processes. Vitamin A is found in large quantities in beef liver, egg yolks, carotene – in carrots, blueberries, vegetable oil. B vitamins are necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses and maintaining normal eye pressure. Their source is meat, fish, dairy products, greens, buckwheat, cabbage, bananas, wholemeal bread, and so on. Vitamin C (found in fruits, vegetables, herbs) strengthens the walls of the blood vessels of the eye, improves blood supply to the eyes, and reduces tension in the eye muscles. If your work involves a lot of eye strain or you have crossed the threshold of middle age, you need to take vitamin-mineral complexes and dietary supplements to strengthen your vision. This course is held at least twice a year: in spring and autumn.
One of the most common age-related (and not only) problems is how to preserve vision. After 50 years everything happens more people, whose invariable attribute is glasses. How to improve vision after 50 years, what preventive procedures should be done, and how to restore vision after 50 years - read below.
Regular sensation of “floaters” means vitreous detachment. A woman aged 50-55 is very susceptible to this problem (especially if she is myopic). The vitreous itself is a gel-like substance that fills the space between the retina and the lens. And if a young girl has a transparent vitreous body, then at fifty years old things are a little different: collagen fibers separate and float in the liquid. This creates the sensation of “floaters” (they can also occur after eye surgery). Ignoring the problem will not tell you how to maintain vision after 50 years.
It is important not to trigger this symptom, because after the glass. body, the retina may begin to detach, which will lead to complete or partial loss of vision. So contact an ophthalmologist urgently if you start to feel floaters. The doctor will monitor the condition and help maintain the initial level of detachment. And if changes affect the retina, then an operation will be performed: coagulation using a laser. Treatments against glass delamination. there is no body: there is no way to preserve vision after 50 years without the intervention of an ophthalmologist in this case. 
Cataract. Cause, deterioration
It is a pathology when the lens becomes cloudy and vision deterioration increases. Changes occur in the lens (it ceases to be transparent and elastic), and the clarity of vision of a woman at 50-55 years of age decreases. If you don't consult a specialist in time, you can end up blind. And then no vision correction at 55 years old will help.
Cataracts can be caused by age or previous surgery. Medicines will not help with this pathology; there will be no improvement. A simple operation is required, where your lens will be replaced with an artificial one, but transparent and elastic. This will be a significant improvement in your vision after age 50. One of the preventive actions against cataracts is to regularly wear glasses that protect from ultraviolet radiation, which negatively affects the lens. Vision will decrease much more slowly.
Glaucoma is another disease that can occur as you age. Characterized by excessive pressure inside the eye and may indicate the presence of a disease (diabetes, hypertension, etc.). It is very important to be regularly examined by an ophthalmologist and have your blood pressure measured. The normal range is considered to be 19-25 mmHg. Values higher than 90% of cases indicate glaucoma. Treatment is based on a course of drops (which normalize the pressure) and surgical intervention (if it was presented late or a severe case is observed).
There are quite a few reasons why and what causes vision loss, but there is only one list of how to improve and maintain the condition. Here he is. Age doesn’t matter; it will be useful to follow the recommendations both in your mature years and in your youth (so that you don’t have to wear glasses after you’re forty years old).
If you are interested in topics like “how to really preserve your eyesight after 50,” read on. After all, visual pathologies and abnormalities often indicate diseases that you may not even suspect. Therefore, it is important to periodically monitor your performance.
For example, . Deviation from the norm can lead to anemia and anemia. Don't forget about medications for... Since metabolism slows down with age, it is necessary to help it by eating the right products and special medications.
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Cataract - blurred vision
According to medical statistics, after 50 years of age, the risk of developing certain diseases increases and pathological conditions. Ophthalmic diseases are no exception. Cataracts and glaucoma can make life a nightmare. But, fortunately, in many cases prevention makes it possible to avoid the development of diseases.
Cataract called clouding of the eye lens, the consequence of which is a progressive deterioration of vision. In some cases, cataracts can lead to complete blindness.
Modern medicine cannot accurately determine the main causes of the disease. But he has information about factors contributing to the development of pathology, which include:
Exposure to sunlight;
X-ray exposure;
Chronic diseases of the endocrine system;
Mechanical damage;
Action of harmful substances.
Treatment
On initial stages Treatment of the disease consists of the use of eye drops and multivitamin complexes. At the stage of immature cataract, when there is a sharp decrease in visual acuity, therapy is indicated. If the disease has progressed to the stage of mature cataract, the only option is surgical intervention. In this case, the patient is implanted with an artificial lens.
It is interesting to note that after a successful operation, vision is restored. If 10 years ago a recovery of 40% was considered a good result, today’s average is 100%.
But the prognosis is not so optimistic for patients who developed cataracts as a complication of another disease - for example, diabetes. Such patients are indicated for lifelong therapy for both cataracts and the underlying disease.
Tips for preventing cataracts
- When going out on a sunny day, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to reduce your exposure to UV radiation.
- Wear safety glasses when making repairs, working with small parts or working with chemicals.
- Enter in your daily diet at least 400 mg of vitamin C (that's 3 glasses of orange juice). According to research, daily consumption ascorbic acid in the specified quantities reduces the risk of developing the disease by almost 80%. In addition, it is useful to increase the proportion of vegetables, fruits and herbs.
Glaucoma - pressure and blindness
Glaucoma is a chronic disease in which there is a significant increase in intraocular pressure. In most cases, glaucoma develops after 50 years as a complication of other diseases:
Diabetes mellitus;
Hypertension;
Atherosclerosis, etc.
Diagnostics
Untreated glaucoma- this is practically a guarantee of blindness. Therefore, after 50 years, the issue of timely diagnosis becomes especially important. Detecting glaucoma is quite simple - you need to measure intraocular pressure by an ophthalmologist. The norm is considered to be 18-25 mmHg. Art. All values above indicate the presence of glaucoma.
Treatment
In most cases, treatment of glaucoma comes down to the use of drops that stabilize eye pressure. The effectiveness of therapy is determined by the correct choice of drug and dosage.
But there are cases when drug treatment does not bring the desired results, and the only solution is surgery. For this purpose, a special laser is used, the use of which can significantly reduce intraocular pressure. On average, the effect of the procedure lasts for 2-4 years, sometimes up to 8 years.
Most often, surgery is necessary for patients suffering from diabetes and other diseases that give rise to the development of glaucoma. Another case that requires intervention is the presence of glaucoma and cataracts at the same time. After 50 years, such cases are not uncommon.
It is noteworthy that, unlike surgical treatment of cataracts, which guarantees restoration of vision, conservative treatment Glaucoma only stops the development of the pathological process. Visual acuity is not restored. Therefore, prevention is of fundamental importance.
Tips for preventing glaucoma
- Daily consumption of antioxidants normalizes intraocular pressure and also improves blood flow and microcirculation. Antioxidants include vitamins A, B, C and E, which are found in vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid stressful situations - stress increases both blood pressure and intraocular pressure.
- Monitor the condition of the blood vessels - glaucoma often occurs due to lack of oxygen. Daily walks in the fresh air are recommended.
- Avoid heavy physical labor and increased loads.
- It is advisable to reduce the time you watch TV and work at the computer to 3 hours a day.
Used materials:
- On the issue of neurodegeneration in glaucoma. Gazizova I.R., Zagidullina A.Sh. Contemporary issues science and education No. 1/2013.
- Classification of congenital cataracts (clinical and surgical). Bobrova N.F. Russian pediatric ophthalmology No. 2/2012.
- Experience in cataract and glaucoma surgery at home. Anisimova S.Yu., Anisimov S.I., Zagrebelnaya L.V. Vestnik Orenburgsky state university №5/2004.
- Surgical treatment of age-related cataracts modern stage. Ilyina S.N., Zavadsky P.Ch. Journal of Grodno State Medical University No. 1/2009.
Health Department of the Khabarovsk City Administration
