As we age, our eyesight can decline – vision loss in the elderly due to eye disease is a major health issue. By age 65, one person in three has some form of eye disease, due to the ageing process, our diet and lifestyle choices. Risk factors like smoking, excess alcohol drinking, diabetes, cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure and medications like steroids can also contribute to eye diseases.

Cataracts, glaucoma, macular disease and dry eyes are the most common conditions as we age:
* Cataracts develop when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, gradually impairing vision.
* Glaucoma is caused by a pressure imbalance or fluid drainage problems in the eye. This results in optic nerve damage and loss of peripheral vision. Early treatment with ongoing drops or surgery can stop its progression, but unfortunately most people don’t notice any symptoms until permanent damage has occurred.

Another leading cause of blindness results from retinal deterioration. The retina is a thin lining of cells, located at the back of the eye that receives visual images and passes them on to the brain. In macular disease and degeneration the vision from the central retina (macula) may become blurred or distorted with dark spots. With diabetes, retinopathy can cause severe loss of vision, through bleeding and swelling of the retina.

While there are medical treatments and surgeries available, natural eye care, including a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle, is an effective way to maintain healthy vision. Annual eye exams with your optometrist are crucial for detecting and treating eye problems early.

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