Eye Care Through the Ages
(HealthDay, 6/13/03)

As people age, their eyesight tends to deteriorate. Most people can correct common age-related vision problems, like presbyopia, by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. But millions of others face the risk of blindness from more serious conditions, like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Of the three sight-threatening eye problems, cataracts (clouding of the lens) is the most manageable because the condition is easily treatable with modern, precise surgery. Glaucoma (the buildup of the pressure of the ocular fluid) is more of a threat because it can damage the optic nerve, but eye drops or surgery can control the condition in most cases. Macular degeneration (deterioration of the central area of the retina) is the greatest threat to vision because in about 15% of cases, tiny white spots in the eye progress to the point where blood vessels proliferate, leak and block vision. For preventative measures, eye experts recommend regular exams, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking nutritional supplements. A 2001 study in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that a combination of vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and zinc may reduce the vision loss caused by macular degeneration.