Let’s Focus on Saving Our Sight!

Let’s Focus on Saving Our Sight!

Edward Gruber, CN

Anyone struggling with vision loss or who has an older friend or relative experiencing vision loss knows just how devastating the condition can be.Aside from its impact on everyday life activities like reading, cooking and driving – even simple tasks like dressing and eating become a challenge – impaired vision and blindness take a great emotional toll. When a once fully independent adult suddenly needs help carrying out the smallest tasks, feelings of helplessness, anxiety and depression often result.

A senior with impaired vision is also at increased risk for falls and fractures and is more likely to mix up medications and make dosage errors.

Making Healthy Vision a Priority

While vision loss can happen at any age, it occurs most often among older adults. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institute of Health (NIH), approximately 38 million Americans over age 40 suffer from glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or cataracts. That number is projected to rise to 56 million by the year 2030.

There are often no warning signs or pain in the early stages of eye disease; by the time someone realizes he or she is losing vision, it may be too late to restore the sight that has already been lost or even halt the progression of the disease.

Yet, there are things we can do as we ageto protect our eyes, from having comprehensive dilated eye exams to making important nutritional changes that canhelp