A case in point is ocular hypertension. This is when the pressure in your eye is elevated. For many years now optometrists have been checking for this when you go for a regular eye exam. It can result in a disease known as glaucoma which is a disease of the optic nerve. One sign to look for is losing one’s peripheral vision. Glaucoma can lead to permanent damage and therefore loss of eyesight.

 A thorough dilate eye exam by a specialist should be done at least every two years. Laser trabeculoplasty may be recommended which is done to drain the fluid off the eye. Elevated pressure in the eye can be significantly reduced by modifying your diet. Eye exercises have proven to be helpful as well.

Another disease of the eye is diabetic retinopathy. Retina changes can occur in diabetics after twenty years or so. The circulation in the retina is effected which can deprive it of oxygen. Floaters and later retinal detachment and even glaucoma can result. Treatment will depend on the stage of retinopathy. Eye surgery known as vitrectomy may be recommended. This removes the vitreous humor of the eye.

Those with diabetes need to check their blood sugar regularly. A healthy diet is essential as is exercise to reduce the risk of retinopathy.

Of course one of the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly is AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration. This is a slow deterioration of the central vision. There is no known cure at the present time. For years it was believed that a diet rich in antioxidants could help prevent this disease but it seems that that alone may not have that much of an impact. However it appears that an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant diet can help.

Night blindness can be caused by retinitis pigmentosa. This disease can cause the field of vision to keep narrowing and therefore the loss of peripheral vision. This disease is inherited and just recently the gene which causes it has been identified. Much research is needed to learn more about what can be done. One study by the National Eye Institute discovered that a high dosage of vitamin A palmitate decreases the progression of the disease.

Another common problem is cataracts. Among the causes for this disease is exposure to ultraviolet light, having diabetes, and some types of glaucoma. Aging itself causes the lens to become less resilient. Cataract surgery has become a very popular and successful procedure.

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Tags: astigmatism, cataract-surgery, cataracts, color+blindness, diabetes, Diabetic-retinopathy, eye+exercises, Glaucoma, healthy+diet, macular+degeneration, natural+herbs, peripheral+vision, retinitis-pigmentosa, vision+loss

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