SENIORS: SET YOUR SIGHTS ON HEALTHY VISION

KEEP YOUR EYES IN SIGHT

For most people, minor vision problems are a normal process of aging. But as we age, the risk of developing more serious eye problems increases. Some of these problems can lead to a particular or complete loss of vision, which, in turn, affects a person’s safety and independence.

AGE’S IMPACT ON VISION

• Older drivers with vision impairment are 200% more likely to be involved in an auto accident.
• People over 60 have an increased risk for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other sight-threatening or visually disabling eye conditions, as well as other serious health conditions.
• Approximately one in three Americans has some form of vision reducing eye disease by the age of 65.

CATARACT RISK

By age 80, more than half of all Americans develop cataracts, which occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Most people with cataracts have the problem in both eyes, although one eye may be worse than the other. Some people with cataracts don’t even realize they have them, so watch for these symptoms:

• changes in the way you see color.
• frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription.
• impaired vision at night, especially while driving, caused by the effects of bright light..
• problems with glare from lamps or the sun.
• halos around lights.
• double vision.
• white or cloudy spots in the lens of the eye (the pupil, instead of being black, appears milky or white).

Courtesy of Vision Council of America
a non-profit trade association

Visit www.checkyearly.com for more information