Women s Eye Health and Lions Clubs International Foundation

1. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Women�s Eye Health.organdLions Clubs International Foundation Eye Health for Seniors: Clear Vision from Your Aging Eyes

2. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Attention, Seniors: By age 65, one in three Americans has some vision-impairing eye disease Most don�t know it�often there are no warning signs Poor sight isn�t a natural part of aging You can preserve your sight Have eye disease detected and treated early Visit an eye doctor at least every 1-2 years

3. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Did you know that: Three fourths (3/4ths) of all blindness and vision impairment is either preventable or treatable The same good health habits that protect your heart and lungs also help your eyes It�s never too late to take care of your eyes

4. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education

5. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Age-related Eye ConditionsMore Common in Seniors: Presbyopia Dimming of vision Cataracts Dry eye Glaucoma AMD (age-related macular degeneration)

6. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Aging: What most seniors can expect Presbyopia: Diminished ability to focus on near objects Happens to nearly everyone Often first noticed between ages 40-50 This is why you probably need reading glasses or bifocals

7. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Presbyopia:  What to do Make sure your eyeglasses are correct for both distance and reading For this, visit an eye-care professional (ophthalmologist or optometrist) at least every two years For convenience, buy several pairs of inexpensive reading glasses

8. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Aging:  Dimmer vision Caused by: Slight loss of retinal function Beginning cataracts

9. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Dimmer Vision: What to do Use brighter lighting for reading. For safety, make sure your home is well lit. See your eye doctor if there�s a sudden loss of vision.

10. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Cataracts Caused by eye�s lens becoming opaque Nearly everyone will have them by age 90 Smoking increases incidence of some types Symptoms: 1. Dark, fuzzy vision even with glasses 2. Glare 3. Halos around bright lights (dangerous for driving)

11. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Cataracts: What to do When your eye doctor thinks your cataracts are �ripe,� have them removed surgically This is a very common, simple, successful procedure Artificial lens implanted at surgery; no more �coke-bottle� glasses

12. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Dry Eye Very prevalent in people over 55 Two-to-three times more common in women Caused by insufficient tears or by eyelid inflammation Persistently painful, stinging or itchy eyes Causes much suffering Sometimes leads to serious infection

13. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Dry Eye: What to do Artificial tears are mainstay of treatment Try different eye drops to find best for you Perhaps eye ointment at bedtime Avoid wind, smoke, very dry rooms See an eye doctor if the condition persists

14. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Potentially Blinding Diseases Very serious�require medical care: AMD Glaucoma Diabetic retinopathy

15. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Age-related macular degeneration Leading cause of blindness and irreversible vision loss in seniors Gradually destroys central retina (macula) needed for sharp vision Three times more common in smokers Late stage has two forms: �dry� & �wet� In wet form, leaky blood vessels behind retina

16. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education AMD Symptoms No pain Blurred central vision, even with glasses Later, dark or empty area in center of vision �Wet� form: straight lines appear curved

17. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education AMD: What to do Don�t smoke Get a thorough eye exam, with dilated pupils, at least every 2 years, to monitor deposits behind retina New treatment for wet form can stop, sometimes reverse disease This involves injections (e.g., Lucentis) into eye to stop growth of new vessels

18. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Glaucoma Called �silent thief of sight�: no symptoms until permanent damage done Gradually destroys optic nerve Peripheral (side) vision lost first Essential for seniors to have thorough eye exam at least every 1-2 years

19. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Glaucoma: What to do Get periodic eye exam, with dilated pupils (drops) at least every 1-2 years This detects glaucoma before any damage Prescription eye drops usually halt disease May require trial of different types of drops If necessary, simple surgery to increase fluid flow out of eye

20. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Diabetic Retinopathy Serious complication of diabetes Technically not age-related But increases with duration of diabetes, hence, with age Leaky blood vessels inside retina Distorted and lost vision where leaks are

21. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Diabetic Retinopathy:  What to do Best to prevent diabetes in the first place. Diabetes is related to obesity, so maintain a healthy weight. If you have diabetes, be under the care of an eye doctor; visit at least once a year. If retinal hemorrhage occurs, get laser treatment quickly�this usually saves sight.

22. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Low-vision Aids If you have lost considerable vision from eye disease, don�t lose hope �Low vision� is 20/200 (with glasses) or worse, but it�s not blindness Go to an optometrist who specializes in low-vision aids Low-vision aids can help you resume normal activities

23. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Types of Low-vision Aids Can be as simple as: Magnifying glass Large-print books, clocks, etc. Electronic magnifiers for books and TV Experimental: special eyeglasses to allow driving

24. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Why should I see an eye doctor? Diagnose glaucoma before there�s irreversible vision loss Make sure eyeglasses are correct Treat cataracts, AMD, diabetic retinopathy in a timely manner

25. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education All seniors, at least every 1- 2 years. More often if you have: An eye disease Family history of serious eye disease Diabetes An autoimmune disease (like Sj�gren�s or MS) that can affect the eye A sudden change in vision When should I see an ophthalmologist oroptometrist?

26. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education What you can do to keep clear vision for life Make sure your home is well lit Keep your eyeglasses up-to-date See an eye doctor regularly If you smoke, try to stop Maintain a healthy weight

27. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Be eye smart! It�s largely up to you to maintain your eye health!

28. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education To learn more, visit: www.womenseyehealth.org www. Schepens.harvard.edu www.lcif.org www.healthyvision2010.org www.nei.nih.gov/health

29. Women�s Eye Health.org Preventing blindness through education Presented by:Women�s Eye Health.orgworking in partnership withLions Clubs International Foundationto prevent blindness Funded through a SightFirst grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation to Women�s Eye Health.org