Preventing Vision Loss as You Age

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” Often full of expression, our eyes can speak volumes beyond our words, narrowing in anger or opening in joy and surprise. Our eyes give us the ability to read, recognize faces, and perform tasks. Unfortunately, the process of aging increases the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss affecting as many as 11 million Americans. With no known cure and no definitive causes, this potentially devastating disease most often begins with blurred or wavy vision and can progress to blindness over time. Adults age 55 and up are at the highest risk. Other factors that can increase the risk include family history, high blood pressure, being overweight, and smoking. Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent macular degeneration, or slow the disease’s progression once it has already begun. Read more…