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Healthy
vision
Eyesight
getting worse? It's only natural
What is presbyopia?
The eye examination
What is glaucoma?
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Healthy vision
Deteriorating eyesight? It's only natural
Research shows that most people over the age of 40 wear spectacles all or
part of the time. Vision, like hearing, is something most of us have from
birth and take for granted. Yet eyesight can begin to deteriorate at any
time of life, which is why it is
important to have regular eye examinations with a qualified optician. The
age when people first notice this deterioration varies enormously, but it
happens to everyone sooner or later. Perhaps it gradually becomes more
difficult to read small print in poor light. Or you find that you have to
hold newspapers or telephone directories further away from your eyes in
order to focus properly on the words. This is because as we get older, the
lens of the eye thickens and slowly loses its flexibility, leading to a
gradual decline in our ability to focus on close objects. This is called presbyopia. It is not a disease but a normal and expected change which
sooner or later affects everyone, even people who have previously had
perfect eyesight.
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What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural condition that effects the flexible crystalline
lens within the eye, causing it to lose its flexibility and become more
rigid. This makes it less able to focus clearly at all distances. The lens
also becomes thicker, altering its focal length. People usually start to
notice the effects of presbyopia during their 40s. As soon as you begin to
notice these changes you should visit an optician for a full eye
examination.
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The eye examination
Your optician will carry out a series of painless tests on your eyes using
special equipment to measure the accuracy of your vision. They will also
shine a light in through your pupils using an instrument called an
ophthalmoscope, which allows them to examine closely the inside of your
eye without causing you unnecessary discomfort. This procedure is
important because it enables the optometrist to check the health of your
eyes and helps to detect several conditions which affect the blood
pressure. Another condition which could be detected is glaucoma.
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What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged, often due to
increased fluid pressure within the eye, making it feel harder. If
untreated, the area you can see becomes smaller and smaller (commonly
known as tunnel vision), eventually leading to severely impaired vision
and even blindness. But, if discovered and treated early enough, the
condition can be slowed or halted altogether, resulting in satisfactory
vision that is retained for life. A test is routinely carried out for
glaucoma in people aged over 40, using an instrument called a tonometer.
The optometrist is also likely to use a non-contact tonometer to blow a
puff of air at the eye to measure internal pressure. Some people are more
at risk of developing glaucoma than others, including people who are
diabetic or anaemic, or have hardening of the arteries. It is almost
impossible for anyone to know that they have glaucoma without being tested
because deterioration is very gradual. The eye also has the ability to
adjust to some degree of raised eye pressure so you will not notice any
immediate changes in your vision. The only way to be sure is to have
regular check-ups, preferably every two years, or more frequently if your
optician believes you may be at risk.
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as provided by Specsavers.com 
