Protecting Your Vision from the Aging Process

Aging affects your eyes as it does the rest of your body. As you age, you become increasingly susceptible to disorders and a general deterioration of function. Fortunately, you can protect your eyes from these effects with some common-sense methods and through regular examinations. At Chapel Hill Ophthalmology, our eye doctor has years of experience helping residents of Chapel Hill, NC preserve their eye health.

How Aging Affects Your Vision

The eyes are subject to several afflictions, and some disorders are closely related to the aging process. Cataracts can degrade your eyesight by clouding the lens of the eye. Macular degeneration will reduce your central vision by affecting a specific area inside. Glaucoma is also associated with the aging process, which is caused by internal pressure that can eventually result in total vision loss.

Less serious but still troublesome disorders include presbyopia, which is caused by physical changes in the eye’s lens that can reduce your ability to read or generally see things that are nearby. Dry eye syndrome is caused by inadequate tear production. Our eye doctor will assess your eyes to determine whether or not you are suffering from an age-related eye condition and develop a treatment plan to improve your eye health.

Caring for Your Eyes 

You can maintain good eye health into your later years by following some good habits including eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding smoking. You can also protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, as excessive exposure to ultraviolet light can lead to eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. You can also preserve your vision with regular visits to an eye doctor. Such examinations are essential to preserving your vision as you age and addressing eye disorders before they are allowed to develop. Eye exams can also help you address other health problems such as high blood pressure.

Contact Our Eye Doctor in Chapel Hill, NC for an Eye Health Evaluation 

For more information on the effects of aging on your eye health or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor, call Chapel Hill Ophthalmology today at (919) 942-8701.