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Ihor Magun, MD, FACP OUR HEALTH Vision is the act or power of seeing. It is a special sense that uses complex mecha - nisms to provide us with our “window to the world.” Keeping eyes and vision in excellent condi - tion goes hand in hand with good health. A review of the most common ocular is - sues is always helpful and beneficial in protecting this special sense. What does 20/20 vision mean? It means that, from 20 feet away, you can see the smaller letters that should be seen at 20 feet. Frequently with the onset of middle age (although this can occur at any age), the lens of the eye is unable to increase its refractive power to accommodate near objects. To compensate for this common condition, glasses are the answer. Many individuals purchase glasses without any needed professional recommendation, and many need a prescription to address different strengths for each eye. LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileu - sis) has become a frequently recommend - ed surgical procedure intended to reduce dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This procedure uses a laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea (the eye’s clear protective outer layer), providing the necessary correction. The procedure has been perfected and may be expensive, but taking into consideration the cost of glass - es/contact lenses over time, it may be less costly in the long run. Glaucoma is actually one of the leading causes of blindness in individuals over the age of 60 (although it can present at an earlier age). Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve due to in - For Your Eyes Only For Your Eyes Only creased pressure in the eye. The internal fluid in the eye normally drains out, but if it is overproduced or the drainage system is not func - tioning properly, eye pressure increases. The major concern of this disease is its indolent course, producing no drastic warning signs. One may not notice any changes in vision until it is quite advanced. There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common is open angle. It presents as patchy blind spots in the peripheral (side) vision, ulti - mately leading to what is known as “tunnel vision.” Left untreated, and sometimes even with medications, blindness may occur. Glaucoma is hereditary, so ask if family members have this disease. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists recommends a compre - hensive ocular examination every five to ten years under the age of 40, every two to four years ages 40-54, every one to three years ages 55-64, and every one to two years ages 65+. Individual recommenda - tions are obviously tailored as needed. Treatment is with medications. Aging is the most common cause of cataracts . The process occurs when the normal proteins in the lens begin to break down, resulting in the ocular lens becoming cloudy. This can manifest itself as blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to oncoming headlights at night, as well as seeing bright colors as faded or yellow, or seeing double. Most age-related cataracts occur gradually, but can be seen more quickly in diabetic patients. Cataracts can be removed only surgically. The procedure removes the eye’s cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. Recommendations for helping slow down the development of cata - racts include protecting eyes from sunlight by wearing sunglasses with a clear anti-ultraviolet coating. Stop smoking, and limit driving at night once night vision, halos around objects, or glare become a concern. Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of se - vere loss of eyesight among individuals 50 and older. This condition affects only the central vision and limits the ability to see fine details. It is caused by part of the retina (the light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye that receives images and sends them as electric signals through the optic nerve to the brain), called the macu - la, being damaged. In its early stages, there may be no signs or symp - toms. Risk factors include being over 50, smoking, hypertension, and a diet rich in saturated fat. The information presented in this article is not meant to take the place of a professional consultation with an ophthalmologist, nor is it a pres - entation of detailed disease descriptions. I hope this article will educate you, literally open your eyes and help you care for and preserve our special sense of vision. 33 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ • Вересень-Жовтень 2022
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