Eye Health Tips For the Over 60s.

Because our eyesight changes as we get older, many of us will need to wear glasses or contact lenses as we age, here are some tips to help keep your vision clear.

Its important to wear the correct prescriptive lenses.

Have regular eye tests.

An eye test is not just good for checking whether you glasses are up to date. Its also a vital check on the heath of your eyes. An eye test can pick up eye diseases such as Glaucoma and Cataracts as well as general health problems including Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Some State Governments and Organisations within Australia offer discount optical care or free eye examinations. Details of these schemes can be found at these websites:

• Seniors.Gov.Au

• Vision Care NSW

You may be entitled to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

Wear the right lenses.

An eye test will establish whether you need a different prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. Its very important to wear the correct prescription lenses. This will improve your quality of life and reduce the risks of accidents such as fall. You may be entitled to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses, so ask your Optician about this.

Eye Problems As You Get Older, as you get older, you become more likely to get certain eye problems.

Difficulty Reading - eye muscles start to weaken from the age of 45. Its a natural ageing process of the eye that happens to us all, by the time you are 60 you will probably need separate reading glasses or an addition to your prescription lenses (bifocals or varifocals).

Floaters - these tiny specks or spots that float across your vision are normally harmless. If they persist please see your Optician as they may be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Cataracts - easily detected in an eye test, this gradual clouding of the eyes lens is very common in the over 60's. A simple operation can restore sight.

Glaucoma - this is related to an increase in pressure in the eye that leads to damage of the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain. Left untreated, Glaucoma leads to tunnel vision and ultimately blindness. However, if it's detected early enough, these complications can usually be avoided with eye drops.

Macular Degeneration (MD) - this is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of the central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces. Although there is no cure for MD, there are treatment options that can slow down its progression, depending on the stage and type of disease (wet, dry or other forms). The earlier the disease is detected, the more vision your likely to retain. Regular checks and eye tests including the macula are recommended to reduce the risk or slow down the progression of MD.