This presentation is meant for general public to create awareness. the presenter does not provide medical advice through this presentation

1. The keepers of the house shall tremble
The strong men shall bow themselves
The grinders cease because they are few
Those that look out of the windows be darkened
-Solomon

2. Common Eye Problems In Old Age
Dr. Madhurima K Nayak

3. Why is eyesight all-the-more-
important in old age?
• Physical strength decreases
• Tend to read more
• “New hobbies”
• Slower reflexes

4. Myths
• Vision decreases with age and nothing can be
done about it
• Cataract surgery is a major operation and old
people are not fit for the same
• Cataract surgery should not be performed
until it is fully “ripe”
• Medicines can “melt” cataract
• Cataract is the only cause of decreased vision
in old age

5. 1. Near vision difficulty
• With age, there is “normal” decrease in ability
to see minute objects
• Can be corrected with glasses

6. 2. Cataract
• Most common cause of reversible blindness
• Most commonly seen in old people
• Causes mainly visual symptoms
• Easily treated by surgical removal

7. 3. Glaucoma
• Damage to the nerve of the eye due to raised
pressure within the eye.
• No symptoms until very late stages
• Decrease in field of vision
• Requires medical or surgical treatment

8. 4. Age related macular degeneration
• Degeneration of layers of retina due to age
• Initial presentation with distorted images and
inability to read smaller print
• Not always reversible
• May lead to severe visual impairment

9. 5. Dry eye
• Not as sinister as others
• Stinging and burning sensation in the eye
• Can be relieved by medications

10. Others
• Diabetic retinopathy:
– Affects blood vessels of retina
– Increases with increase in duration of diabetes
and poor control
• Retinal vascular occlusions:
– Occlusion of main artery or vein of retina leading
to sudden loss of vision.

11. • Eye and brain:
– Degenerative diseases and stroke can affect
eyesight and field of vision
• Transient loss of vision:
– May precede stroke
– Sudden loss of vision for around a minute with full
recovery
• Double vision:
– Sudden doubling of vision may be an indicator of
serious neurological disorders.

12. Take home message
• Meet your ophthalmologist regularly and get
your eyes checked, specially if you are a diabetic,
hypertensive or have any heart disease
• Look out for symptoms like
– Narrowing of visual field
– Gradual loss of central vision
– Cloudy and blurred eyesight
– Blind spots in the field of vision
– Sudden loss of vision

13. Recommendations for eye testing
• Asymptomatic individuals or individuals
without risk factors: (40 to 54 years): every 2
to 4 years.
• 55 to 64 years: 1 to 3 years
• 65 years old or older: every 1 to 2 years, even
in the absence of symptoms
(American Academy of Ophthalmology)

14. Have a healthy sight!
Thank you
Age is an issue of
mind over
matter. If you
don't mind, it
doesn't matter.
-Mark Twain
Men do not quit
playing because
they grow old;
they grow old
because they quit
playing.
-Oliver Wendell
Holmes