Every year as we grow older, Rob and I become more mindful of senior eye health. There are a lot of risks: cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy, and the dreaded macular degeneration. Some of our friends have been lucky to catch the beginning signs of eye disease and get early treatment.
Over the last six months I’d been having blurry vision in my left eye. I realized that when I read, my right eye had taken over. And, no matter how large or small I adjusted the print on my Kindle, the left eye was still fuzzy. What was going on?
I’ve had a lifetime problem with severe near-sightedness (myopia), and feared the worse. Cataract surgery five years ago improved my vision (miraculously) with a multi-focal lens so that I could see both near and far. What now?
Since I read at least a book or two a week, I was worried. Fortunately, a visit to the ophthalmologist fixed the problem immediately.
In-Office Laser Treatments for Senior Eye Health
My doctor spotted “dirty” proteins that had spread across my left lens. He sat me down at a small laser device and proceeded to zap them away. After the eye drops wore off I was able to drive home with perfect vision in my left eye. (However, seeing perfectly on the left, made me realize that the right eye had also become “dirty.” So the next week I got it fixed as well.)
It is amazing the machines they now use to examine, diagnose and fix eye problems that previously needed delicate interventions. I share this story so that if you are putting off an eye exam, for example, out of fear for what they might find, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. You might save your vision if you do it in time.
Prevention Strategies for Senior Eye Health
Are there things we can do to prevent losing eye sight as we age? How do we best protect our eyes? What are proteins and how do they end up on your lens?
A few days ago I explained the dangers of eating too much sugar and carbohydrates, even for seniors of normal weight who are not diabetic. You can read about it here. The problem with sugar (glucose) is that in our bodies, the molecules become sticky and bind to proteins and form toxic Advanced Glycation End-products, or AGEs, which cause cellular dysfunction.
AGEs contribute to a much higher risk of diabetes, heart attacks, and dementia. I’m not sure that is how I ended up with sticky proteins on my eye, but I’d guess my sugar habit probably creates a chemical paradise for glycation.
One more reason to avoid sugar and high-carbohydrate eating. I asked Dr. Wikipedia how glycation affects the cells of the eyes and here is what I learned:
Long-lived cells (such as nerves and different types of brain cell), long-lasting proteins (such as crystallins of the lens and cornea), and DNA may accumulate substantial damage over time. Cells such as the retina cells in the eyes, and beta cells (insulin-producing) in the pancreas are also at high risk of damage.
I can’t say for sure why my lenses became dirty, but I do know that the more I eat sugar and high carbohydrates, the more risks I am taking on a cellular level. I’m going off of sugar one of these days. It’s not enough to minimize intake, because the cravings end up getting the best of me.
One day, soon….
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