Our eyes can be considered our most important sensory organ because they mediate 80% of the information reaching our brain. In this regard, it is important that we protect our eyes and have information about the diseases that are more common with advancing age.
In this article, we aimed to include some diseases that we see more frequently in the eyes with advancing age and that we can take precautions against. We hope it will be useful.
Cornea (Transparent Layer) and Dry Eye
Cornea is the frontmost layer of the eye. But in fact, the first eye layer that comes into contact with the external environment is the 'tear' that covers the cornea. The tear film begins to lose its former properties, especially after the age of 40-50. Women in menopause feel this more. Because the glands that produce some layers of tears are under the influence of hormones. Hormonal changes affect these glands and dry eyes become more common. Some medications, such as hypertension, depression and allergy medications, can also increase dry eye through different mechanisms. Frequent use of the computer can reduce the number of blinks and cause dry eyes. The most common symptoms of dry eyes are stinging, burning, itching and foreign body sensation in the eyes. Treatment is usually with tear drops; In cases where this is insufficient, there are solutions such as anti-inflammatory drops, long-acting tear gels or tear duct plugs that allow tears to stay in the eye longer.
Other common signs of aging in the cornea are the 'Age Ring' ('Age Ring'), which causes whitening around the outer perimeter of the cornea. Arcus Senilis) and 'Bird Wing (Pterygium)' extending from the white part of the eye to the cornea. Both of these conditions occur as a result of long-term exposure to the sun's harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays. The easiest way to prevent and delay it with the naked eye is to use reliable UV-blocking sunglasses when we are outdoors. There is usually no treatment required for senile ring, but when it progresses to the bird's eye corneal layer, the treatment is surgery.
Lens (Eye Lens) and Cataract
In the camera, the lens does the focusing, and in our eyes, the lens does the focusing. Since the lens is more flexible at a young age, we can easily see distant and close objects clearly. However, in the 40s As adaptation flexibility decreases significantly with age, we begin to have difficulty in seeing up close and need glasses. This is called Presbyopia. Nowadays, contact lenses that can provide both distance and near vision are also used successfully in the treatment of presbyopia, instead of near glasses. Surgical treatment is still in its early stages and different treatments continue to be developed.
When the flexibility of the lens decreases further and the clarity of the lens decreases, vision begins to decrease. This is called cataract. The treatment for cataracts is surgery. Cataract maintains its title as the most commonly performed surgery today and is performed successfully in almost every country. Cataract surgery is most commonly and successfully performed by the method called Phacoemulsification. This surgery, which has mistakenly earned the title of 'Laser cataract surgery' among the public, is actually based on sound waves breaking down the lens, liquefying it and removing it from the eye. At the end of the surgery, an artificial lens is placed in the eye. Healing has been significantly accelerated thanks to the fact that it can be performed through small holes.
The most important development in cataract surgery in recent years has been artificial lenses that enable distant and near vision at the same time. With these lenses, it has become possible to continue daily life after surgery, largely without the need for glasses. Preoperatively, detailed evaluation of whether the eye is suitable for this type of lenses and identifying suitable candidates is perhaps the most important step.
Optical Nerve (Optic Nerve) and Glaucoma
Glaucoma disease is actually an optic nerve disease and is characterized by the gradual decrease of the fibers that make up the optic nerve. However, it is also referred to as 'Eye Pressure' disease because its treatment is mainly based on reducing intraocular pressure and one of the most important risk factors is high intraocular fluid pressure. Unfortunately, the most common types are the ones that are the quietest and show symptoms late. Its incidence gradually increases after the age of 40. For this reason, it can be considered the most important reason for us to have regular eye examinations once a year after the age of 40. Patients may experience some types of glaucoma with symptoms such as eye redness and pain, and blurred vision. can be recognized by their However, it is largely detected by chance during examination and may have progressed by the time it is noticed. Treatment aims to stop the course of the disease and prevent nerve loss. It is not possible today to replace lost nerve cells. The backbone of treatment is eye drops that lower intraocular pressure. There are many eye drops available today that are effective with infrequent dosing. Surgical options are also available for types of Glaucoma that cannot be treated with drops.
Another disease of the optic nerve seen in older ages is 'opic nerve stroke/paralysis (ischemic optic neuropathy)', which occurs due to sudden blockage of the vessels feeding the optic nerve. This disease occurs with sudden and severe vision loss. The most common risk factors can be considered as hypertension, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol levels, which impair vascular health in the body. It is now accepted that the optic nerve provides an anatomical predisposition in some people. The occurrence of this disease actually advises us that the vascular health in the body is generally inappropriate and that existing risk factors should be controlled rationally. At the same time, drugs that prevent blood clotting such as Aspirin should be used to prevent vascular occlusion. Similar to this disease, stroke/paralysis of the nerves that control the muscles that move the eye is more common with the same risk factors and advanced age. The patient who encounters such a situation has a history of sudden onset double vision. Treatment and approach are generally similar, and measures to improve the patient's vascular health are essential.
Retinal and Yellow Spot Disease
The gel-like intraocular vitreous fluid in front of the retina becomes more fluid after the age of 50 and begins to separate from the retina. At this stage, complaints such as sudden flashes of light and floaters occur in the eye. This condition is called 'posterior vitreous detachment (separation of intraocular fluid from the retina to which it adheres)' in medicine. The frequency of posterior vitreous detachment, which is actually a completely physiological condition, increases with age, so much so that it is present in 63% of patients over the age of 70. This condition requires treatment alone. It is not a condition, but as posterior vitreous detachment develops, a tear in the retina may occur at a rate of 10-15%. If retinal tears are detected in time, they can be easily treated with laser. Some tears may pose a risk of separation of the retinal layer (retinal detachment). For this reason, it would be appropriate for patients with eye floaters and flashes to consult an Ophthalmologist for detailed evaluation of their retinas. A similar situation may occur with a blow to the eye, and the approach to the resulting retinal tears is similar.
Read: 0
