As you get older, your risk of developing eye problems – both health-related and cosmetic in nature – increases. Your vision can get blurrier; especially with glaucoma and cataracts being great possibilities (2.7 million Americans aged 40 and above have glaucoma, while half of all aged 80 would have had a cataract already). There are also other serious eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration that causes irreversible deterioration in your vision and could even result in blindness.
Of course, it also becomes easier to spot changes in how your eyes and the areas around it look. Even as early as your twenties, you could notice puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Eventually, the skin on these areas would lose their elasticity, sag, and give you a tired look. Wrinkles or “crow’s feet” could also develop on the outer corners of the eyes, which makes you look older.
In some cases, cosmetic and health problems may overlap. For instance, the eyelids may be too droopy and partly cover the eyes, enough to prevent you from seeing clearly. The loose or puffy skin may also make it difficult for you to put on or remove your contacts or cause you to strain your forehead muscles (from lifting the heavy eyelids) and to develop eye irritations (since the skinfolds could rub against each other).
Although aging does have normal consequences, many of the problems that you experience may arise from diseases or injuries, which could be prevented. Some issues can also be resolved through professional treatment. Here are some tips from an experienced Littleton ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon to help keep your eyes healthy and youthful:
Get regular eye exams.
There’s no way around it. The best you can do to prevent eye problems or have them treated before it’s too late is by getting eye checkups regularly (at least every year).
Protect your eyes daily.
Talk to your doctor about the nutritious food you can eat to promote eye health, and always use protective items like sunglasses, safety goggles, and eye creams with sunblock when they’re needed.
Explore surgical options.
A cosmetic surgeon in Littleton like Dr. Neha Patel Sitole from Oculoplastics & Ophthalmology at Littleton can discuss your treatment options. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) may be recommended if the sagging or drooping around your eyes is already preventing you from seeing well or even from feeling confident in how you look.
(Source: How to protect your vision as you age, Daily Herald)
