Senior Eye Health: 60 Years of Age and Older

While age is just a number, and being age 60 or older can still mean you live with healthy eyes and good vision, it is during this time that your eyes are the most vulnerable to age-related vision conditions and eye diseases.

Being in your 60s and beyond, it’s extremely important to be aware of the warning signs of eye conditions and diseases. When you know what to expect or look for, you can get help or treatment faster and offset more serious vision issues – like partial loss or blindness.

Above all, it’s important to remember that any vision issue that you currently live with or develops as you age does not have to negatively affect your desired lifestyle. With the right support and care, you can enjoy comfortable, clear vision for years to come.

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Common Eye Conditions Seen in Seniors

Eye conditions that individuals aged 60 and older commonly contend with include:

Because many eye diseases have no early symptoms, and may develop painlessly, you may not notice the onset of various eye conditions until it is already advanced. That’s why a comprehensive annual eye exam is so imperative as you reach your senior years.

Learn about our effective detection of and treatment for eye diseases or schedule your healthy eye exam today:

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How to Maintain Good Eyesight in Your 60s and Beyond

Maintaining good eyesight as you age can be as simple as fostering healthy lifestyle choices and having regular eye exams to ensure your vision is adequately supported and to detect the early onset of an eye disease.

Discover foods for eye health and eye health tips to help you sustain clear, comfortable eyesight:


Eye Health Tips to Use Everyday

Help your eyes support your everyday by following these age-related eye health tips:

Focus on your sleep

Sleep delivers your eyes with continuous lubrication and cleans the eyes of a daily accumulation of dust, allergens, or smoke. Additionally, because light-sensitive cells in the eye help regulate wake-sleep cycles, it’s important to get exposure to some natural light every day to help maintain a healthy sleep cycle – which is good for overall health, too.

Ensure systemic health problems are controlled

Living with high blood pressure, diabetes, or another systemic health issue can become more involved or troublesome as we age. These issues will affect body and eye health. When systemic health issues are controlled, eye health is less affected.

Quit smoking.

Because smoking is linked to an increased risk of macular degeneration, cataract, optic nerve damage, and other diseases that lead to blindness, it’s imperative to cease all smoking habits.

Avoid falling

By taking steps around your home, you can lessen the risk of falling and injuring your eyes:

  • Ensure rugs and shower/bath mats are slip-proof
  • Reinforce loose railings
  • Cushion corners and edges of furnishings

Wear appropriate protective eyewear.

When engaging in most activities, from exercising to yard work to cleaning, it’s beneficial to wear protective eyewear. Safety eyewear will protect your eyes should you have an accident or sustain an injury.

Wear sunglasses.

Sunglasses are vital to protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Wear sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Wear blue light glasses and utilize other protective blue light settings.

Digital screens, from phones, computers, TVs, and other electronic devices expose the eyes to harmful, high energy blue light. Blue light blocking glasses and blue light settings on digital devices can help reduce the risk of digital eye strain.

Eat the right foods.

By consuming certain foods, your eyes and overall vision will benefit. View the list in the section titled Food for Eye Health below.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Obesity can lead to diabetes, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, or other health issues. These conditions can lead to vision loss. It’s important to talk with your doctor about how you can safely work toward a healthy weight.

Exercise.

Regular exercise – from walking, jogging, hiking, yoga, stretching and breathing and other physical activity – can give your eyes the good blood circulation and oxygen intake they need. It can also help you maintain your weight.


Foods for Eye Health

By eating foods that promote eye health and function, you can maintain healthy vision and reduce the development of degenerative diseases:

  • Sweet potatoes
  • Squash
  • Eggs
  • Carrots
  • Red peppers
  • Lean meat and poultry
  • Dark, leafy greens (kale, spinach)
  • Beans and legumes
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Sunflower seeds and nuts
  • Salmon, tuna, and halibut (fish high in omega-3 fatty acids)


Vitamins for Eye Health

Certain vitamins may optimize eye health, including:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin
  • Zinc

Be sure to consult with your doctor and optometrist before taking any vitamin or supplement, or increasing your vitamin dosage. Your health care providers can assess your eye and overall health and determine safe and beneficial dosages for you to consume.


Eyewear: Specialty Eye Protection

Regardless of the activity you’re engaging in, your eyes need protection.

Specialty eyewear – eyeglasses designed for specific tasks – is very important to help you see clearly while remaining protected from a potential eye injury.

Depending on what you’re doing, your eyes may need:

  • Work and hobby eyewear
  • Driving glasses
  • Computer/blue light blocking glasses
  • Sports eyewear
  • Safety glasses
  • Sunglasses

Specialty eyewear can be made with prescription or nonprescription lenses.

Learn more about specialty eyewear or schedule an appointment with us today so we can help you find the right specialty eyeglasses for the specific tasks and activities in your life:



How Often Should Seniors Schedule an Eye Exam?

For individuals age 60 and older, a comprehensive eye exam is recommended annually. If your optometrist needs to monitor your vision more frequently, more eye exams will be advised.

 

Aging is Normal. Deteriorating Vision Doesn’t Have to Be. Let iCare Help You Achieve Optimal Vision at Any Age

Protect your vision by detecting issues early with regular eye examinations. Let us help you take the best care of your eyes today and every day.

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