Changes in Vision

Dear Linda,

       I have a golf buddy who’s constantly rubbing his eyes. Now he’s blaming his bad game on seeing through a haze. Isn’t it time to get his glasses checked?

Birdie in Bedford

Dear Birdie:

       No, it’s time to have his eyes checked and by a good ophthalmologist. Everyone over age 50 should have an annual exam that includes eye dilation. The doctor tests for many conditions including near and farsightedness, high pressure that can cause glaucoma (a cause of blindness), and harmful changes resulting from diabetes.  Call EyeCare America at 800-222-3937 or visit www.eyecareamerica.org to see if you qualify for a free exam and treatment.

       Presbyopia is the impairment of vision caused by aging. The change in ratio of water to protein in the eye lens makes it less flexible and able to focus. Additionally, the crystalline lens of the eye loses its elasticity causing the point of clear vision to be farther away, so though the eyes are truly the “windows to the world”, as people age, those windows often fog up.

       Numerous conditions cause hazing including cataracts and dry eye (sometimes the result of dehydration or medications for lowering cholesterol and combating allergies). Both problems must be resolved for health and comfort.

       A healthy life style beginning in our twenties is key to preventing cataracts and macular degeneration of the retina. Give up smoking, drink in moderation, and avoid Ultra Violet (UV) light by always wearing sunglasses outside. Follow a diet rich in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin. For those who don’t eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, consider a multivitamin/multimineral supplement with components specific to eye health.

       Research vision correction procedures: Cataract Surgery (no stitch and no shot method), LASIK for the treatment of near and farsightedness and astigmatism, and Crystalens (results in seeing at all distances). Be sure to read the layman-friendly book Mayo Clinic on Vision and Eye Health: Practical Answers on Glaucoma, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration & Other Conditions by Helmut Buettner.