3 Common Eye Issues That Can Develop as You Age

Age isn’t something to fear, rather it is a badge of honor that people can embrace. As you age it’s common to learn more about yourself and the world around, and learn to be more appreciative of life in general. And while those are most certainly the positives in aging, there are some negatives too. There are health issues that people can start to develop that are often directly linked to age, or at least more common in the aging population.

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With that said let’s take a look at three common eye issues that can start to develop as you age.

Dry Eyes

Here's a relatively minor issue that can start to develop with your eyes, but it can be bothersome. Dry eyes feel like just that, your eyes are more dry than then used to be and therefore they can get red, itchy, and even burn a bit. The reason this happens is that your tear glands aren’t making enough tears anymore. The good news is that there are lots of effective ways to address the issue such as over-the-counter eye drops, prescription eye drops, using a humidifier in your home, and in more severe cases, surgery.

While this tends to be a more irritating problem than anything else, there is the possibility of it leading to blindness, so if you’re suffering from dry eyes it’s best to see the doctor as soon as possible.

Eye Floaters

Eye floaters are described as small little dots, specks, or spots that are floating in your eye and actually affect your vision. You can see them as you look at objects, and they tend to be more pronounced on days that are really bright and sunny. Again it's best to talk to your doctor if this is happening, but in general they tend to be pretty normal and nothing to be concerned about as long as they don't suddenly happen.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that is more common in people as they age, and unfortunately it is a rather serious issue. It is caused by an excess of pressure that is inside your eye, which can actually lead to permanent blindness. The key to addressing this issue is early detection and treatment. Treatment can include special eye drops or even surgery depending on how severe your glaucoma is. There are also different kinds of glaucoma, which is something your eye doctor will be able to diagnose.

Some of the early warning signs that you may have glaucoma developing include blurry vision that has suddenly started, red eyes, nausea, a halo effect around lights, eye pain that is severe, headaches, a feeling of pressure in your eye, nausea, vomiting, and even tunnel vision.

Be Aware of the Signs to Watch For

While the simple fact that you’re aging doesn’t mean you’ll have eye issues, it is important to realize that things can start to happen. Knowing what the warning signs and symptoms are is important so you can get checked out as soon as possible.