Eyes Fail As You Age; Steps Can Slow Decline

Vincent Czyz, Contributing writer

By age 45, very few people can thread a needle or read a book without glasses.

While children can focus on objects an inch away, middle-aged adults may not be able to focus on anything closer than one or two yards.

This is a condition called presbyopia, says Dr. Emily Chew, an ophthalmologist who has been at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Md., for 22 years. As we age, the lens of the eye loses its elasticity and its ability to change shape. While Chew says that the condition is inevitable, but she points out that it's fixable. You just need glasses.

Macular degeneration, another age-related condition, is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S., accounting for 54 percent of all blindness according to Chew. Among Americans 55 and older, the percentage is much higher.

The macula is the part of the retina that provides 20/20 vision explains Thomas Czyz, who sits on the Arizona Board of Optometry. In other words, it is the macula -- a mere 1.5 millimeters in diameter -- that allows us to see fine details.

Think of a bull's eye on a dartboard. It's a bright, vibrant red when you first get it. Over time it can degenerate or wear out. The bull's eye has been hit too many times; it looks dull. This is the dry form of the disease, which results from a loss of pigmentation. In the other type, known as wet macular degeneration, blood fluid and protein break through the macula, one of the thinnest areas of retinal tissue, and cause massive damage, says Czyz.

The risk of cataracts, a natural yellowing of the lens, also increases with age. Unlike macular degeneration, which is incurable, cataracts can be corrected with surgery. Ninety-five percent of patients, Chew says, can maintain 20/20 vision after a cataract operation if they don't have other diseases.

Slowing Disease

There is even better news: Both macular degeneration and cataracts are in large part preventable. Indeed, according to Doug Hassenpflug, former chief of staff of Huhukam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, Ariz., and an international lecturer on ocular diseases, there are things you can do to slow down the aging process in general.

Nutrition is the key. The body is its most important pharmacy and has the best ability to heal itself.

Diets, Chew agrees, are very important. Citing recent studies, she pointed out that people who ate the most green, leafy vegetables had the lowest chance of macular degeneration. In addition, eating fish twice a week reduced chances of macular degeneration by about 40 percent. This is all observational data, she cautions. It doesn't mean these dietary changes all by themselves will produce these results. They may be part of an overall lifestyle that is better for your eyes.

All three doctors also strongly advise against smoking, which increases the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Sunglasses can protect your lenses from UV rays. UV 400, polarized sunglasses are optimal, says Czyz.

You should also have an annual exam once you are 65 to catch things that are treatable.

Reduce your weight, says Chew, keep your blood pressure low.

Regular exercise, Hassenpflug says, helps with cardiovascular stability, blood flow and circulation. This is helpful because a lot of eye disorders result from vascular problems. Is running five miles a day going to make you not need glasses? No, but it will help preserve your vision.

While all three doctors agreed on the efficacy of antioxidants, Czyz recommended minerals you should be sure to get such as lutein; vitamins A, C and E; omega-3 fatty acids; and zinc.

Prevention, insists Hassenpflug, is the key. Develop healthy habits, she said, becaue it is always harder to reverse a disease than it is to prevent it from happening.