Saving Your Eyesight

If you are over fifty, there is more reason to look at the calendar than just to remember an important date! Looking at the grid pattern can reveal important changes in your vision that may actually help you save your sight.

After you reach 50, an important part of your eye called the macula may begin to break down a little bit. The macula is located at the back of your eye in the center of the retina, and it is the area that is most sensitive to light. If you notice extra sensitivity to light contact your ophthalmologist. You may have to onset of macular degeneration. Keep reading to find out about age-related macular degeneration and particularly wet age-related macular degeneration or "wet" AMD.

If the macula deteriorates, the middle of your field of vision becomes blurred or dark. This condition is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It affects about 25% of people over the age 65 and 33% of those over 80.

If you have AMD, you may notice blurring or haziness in the center of your vision. Straight lines may look wavy, and you may not see colors as well as you used to. Fortunately, most people do not have serious vision loss from AMD.

People with age-related macular degeneration or AMD have about a 10% chance of developing a more serious condition called "wet" age-related macular degeneration. In wet AMD, tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye begin to leak, causing scaring and loss of central vision. Wet AMD may develop suddenly at any time and cause rapid and severe vision loss within days or weeks.

This is where your calender comes in. By monitoring your vision regularly, you can detect changes in it early enough to see your ophthalmologist right away and stop the damage caused by wet AMD.

Your doctor can give you an Amsler grid that looks much like a calendar to use when checking your vision.

If you need reading glasses, please wear them while you use the Amsler grid. The grid should be at about the same distance from your eyes that any other reading material would be.

Cover one eye, then focus on the dot in the center.

• Do any of the lines look wavy, blurred or distorted? (All lines should be straight, all intersections should form right angles and all the squares should be the same size.)
• Are there any missing areas or dark areas in the grid?
• Can you see all corners and sides of the grid?
• Don't forget to test both eyes.

VERY IMPORTANT: Report any irregularity to your eye doctor immediately.

You can mark areas of the chart that you're not seeing properly and bring it with you to your eye exam.

An ophthalmologist can use laser treatment to stop the blood vessels from leaking and slow down the process of wet AMD.

This article explains some ways to prevent cataracts naturally. Discover how alternative treatments for cataracts have helped in reducing the symptoms. We will cover cataracts symptoms and homeopathic treatment. There are a lot of theories as to how to prevent cataracts, but these are only theories. If you suspect you do have cataracts it is highly recommended that you consult your eye doctor or ophthalmologist.

With the fast-paced life of most Americans, many people seem to be suffering from fatigue. But the reason for your tiredness may be directly related to your eyesight.

People should make sure they are getting adequate sleep, daily exercise and a well-balanced diet before considering other causes of fatigue. However, many doctors warn that the eyes may be the key to unusual tiredness.

Old perscription glasses, improper contact lenses, or deteriorating eyesight can cause extreme fatigue. If you are tired get an eye exam.

Using sunglasses or contacts that are not strong enough for your needs can put a strain on your eyes and zap your energy. An eye exam may uncover a visual problem that has been causing your tiredness.

People with high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of vision problems should have an eye exam by an ophthalmologist once a year. Everyone should see am eye doctor at least once every two years according to the National Society to Prevent Blindness.

Tired Eyes photo by geyergus