Like our bodies, our vision changes as we grow and age. Here is a brief look at vision problems commonly associated with certain age groups. If you are experiencing any symptoms, schedule an appointment with one of the doctors at Eye Associates today.

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Early Childhood

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, affects about two percent of babies and preschoolers. It involves the loss of central vision in one eye, while side vision is unaffected. It usually is associated with another common pediatric eve problem, strabismus (cross-eyes), or with a large difference in the degree of farsightedness between the two eyes. In both cases. the brain ignores visual information from one eye in favor of the other. Amblyopia screenings are no substitute for a thorough eye examination, which every child should have by age three. The earlier amblyopia is diagnosed and treated, the better.

Strabismus, also known as crossed-eyes, involves the turning of one or both eyes in, out, up, or down. A comprehensive eye examination is needed for diagnosis. Strabismus is treated with prism lenses, and surgery.

Early School Years Through Teen Years

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is most likely to appear between the ages of 10 and 20. It is a progressive condition that blurs distance vision and usually stabilizes in the mid- to late-twenties. An annual eye examination is wise. Periodic lens changes are needed, although wearing contact lenses may slow myopia's progression.

Astigmatism is caused by an irregularity in the cornea's shape, astigmatism blurs and distorts vision at all distances. It can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Hyperopia, or farsightedness is one of the refractive errors. The most common cause cause of hyperopia is a normal variation in the shape of the eyeball; the length of the eyeball is too short. This means that it is shorter front to back than is normal. In some cases, hyperopia may be caused by the cornea having too flat a curvature.

Adulthood

Prolonged focusing problems can be caused by concentration on reading, computer screens or other close work. Such actions can lead to focusing difficulties at any age but especially among young adults. These problems include temporary difficulty in seeing clearly at a distance after such work or a sluggishness in switching eye focus from near to far or vice versa. These problems may occur each time a person Is involved in a visually intensive task or job. For proper diagnosis, symptoms should be reported to the eye care specialist. Reading glasses are effective treatments.

Iritis is the inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Iritis, which is often the result of a disease in another part of the body, can be a recurring condition. Diseases such as arthritis, tuberculosis, or syphilis can contribute to the development of iritis. Infection of some parts of the body i.e. tonsils, sinus, kidney, gallbladder and teeth can also cause inflammation of the iris. Symptoms of iritis usually appear suddenly and develop rapidly over a few days. Iritis commonly causes pain, tearing, light sensitivity and blurred vision. Treatment of iritis is often directed at finding and removing the cause of the inflammation. In addition, eye drops and ointments are used to relieve pain, quiet the inflammation, dilate the pupil, and reduce any scarring which may occur.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus which causes abnormalities in the tiny blood vessels nourishing the retina. Left untreated, this disease can result in severe visual loss, including blindness. It is the leading cause of blindness among adults. Though vision may gradually become blurred, significant loss of sight does not usually occur with background retinopathy. Changes in the retina can go unnoticed unless detected by an eye exam. When bleeding occurs in proliferative retinopathy, the patient has clouding or complete loss of sight. Treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends on the location of the disease and the degree of damage to the retina. If retinopathy occurs in the peripheral retina, careful monitoring of the disease may be all that is necessary. When retinopathy affects the macula and central vision, laser treatment is usually necessary.

Middle Age

Presbyopia is sometimes confused with farsightedness. Presbyopia blurs vision for reading and other close work. It is related to the aging process and causes a loss of flexibility in the lens inside the eye. It typically begins after age 40 and progresses into the early sixties. It can complicate other vision conditions. Reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals or contact lenses are needed, as are periodic lens changes.

Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition of the eyes in which either the quantity or quality of the tear film is poor resulting in eye irritation, scratchiness or even blurred vision. This condition is often age related as it occurs more frequently in adults over 40. It may also be the result of hormonal changes associated with menopause. Treatment of dry eye syndrome includes the use of artificial tears as well as occlusion of the lacrimal duct. Duct occlusion is a simple out patient procedure performed by the Doctors at Eye Associates. By simply blocking the tear drainage duct of the eyes, we in essence, form a reservoir of tears on the surface of the eyes.

Older Adults

Cataracts occur when the clear lens within the eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts vary from extremely small to large cloudy areas. The frequency of cataracts increases with age. With some cataracts, only prescription lenses are needed to maintain good vision. Cataracts that affect vision for daily living are surgically removed. Vision is restored with an intraocular lens implant. Such surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis and patients can resume normal activities in a matter of days.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma involves an increase in the fluid inside the eye to a point that pressure damages the optic nerve. Most likely to strike after age 40, glaucoma has no early symptoms but can be diagnosed in early stages during a thorough eye examination. Glaucoma has many forms but the most common type occurs when the fluid in the eye is unable to drain out at the same rate it is produced. Early diagnosis and treatment help minimize vision loss. Treatment usually takes the form of eye drops and medicines. In some cases, surgery is required.

Macular Degeneration is likely to occur after age 60. Macular degeneration results in a blurring or loss of central vision, making close work difficult. It most likely involves changes in the blood vessels nourishing the retina. If these blood vessels leak and this is discovered early, laser therapy is helpful in some cases. There is increasing evidence that nutritional supplements rich in antioxidants may be helpful in preventing or slowing the progression of the disease. When vision loss occurs, special optical aids such as magnifiers, telescopes and high powered reading lenses are prescribed to improve remaining vision. Regular eye examinations and an awareness of symptoms aid early diagnosis. Symptoms include: straight lines appearing bent; letters and numbers appearing in multiple images; or letters appearing distorted or jumbled in size.

For All Ages

Eye Injuries - Accidents account for more vision loss than eye diseases. Most eye injuries are preventable. Use proper safety eyewear for eye hazardous activities at home, at work, and for recreation; and keep children away from eye-hazardous tasks and toys.

Floaters - Small, semi-transparent or cloudy specks or particles within the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eyes. They appear as specks of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands or cobwebs. Since they are within your eyes, they move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. Floaters result from deterioration of the vitreous fluid, due to aging; or from certain eye diseases or injuries. Most floaters are not harmful and rarely limit vision. But, floaters can be indications of more serious problems, and you should be seen right away when you notice sudden changes or see increases in them, especially if they are associated with "flashes" of light in the eye.

Red Eyes - Persistent eye redness can be a cause for concern to many patients. Redness can indicate infection, inflammation, dryness or a contact lens related problem. An examination will determine the source of the redness.