IN Canon-Mac Winter 2016 | Page 22

SPECIAL SECTION: HEALTHY LIVING u blood vessels that lead to the retina. Proper management of diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss. u Glaucoma: The second leading cause of blindness, glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve. The risk of developing glaucoma increases with age and if parents or siblings have the disease. During an eye exam, glaucoma can be detected by measuring eye pressure, inspecting the drainage angle of the eye, evaluating the health of the optic nerve and testing the visual field of each eye. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, glaucoma can be treated through eye drops, medication or surgery. u Cataracts: A cataract affects vision by clouding the lens of the eye. Chances of cataracts increase greatly with age, with more than half of all Americans either having a cataract or having had cataract surgery by the age of 80. People in their 40s and 50s can have cataracts, but they are typically small and do not affect vision. Cataracts are detected by blurred vision, faded colors, glare from headlights or lamps, poor night vision, double vision, or frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses. Early detection can improve cataracts through new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses or brighter lighting. Surgery can also be done to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. 20 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Canon-Mac Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): One of the common, but lesser known eye conditions is AMD. A leading cause of vision loss among people 50 years of age and older, AMD affects the macula, the millions of light-sensing cells that provide your eye with sharp, central vision. Age is a major risk factor for developing AMD, with most cases occurring after the age of 60. Genetics, race, and smoking can also affect risk for AMD. A comprehensive eye exam can detect AMD through dilation and testing. Your eye care professional will look for yellow deposits beneath the retina to determine if you have AMD. Intermediate and late AMD can be treated with daily intake of vitamins and minerals that can slow the progression of the disease. Therapy and surgery can also be considered for types of advanced neovascular AMD, which typically results in severe vision loss, to stop further progression. Hearing Loss and Prevention It is common for hearing loss to occur as you age. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 25 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 55 and 64 have some degree of hearing loss, increasing to one in two people by age 65 and older. Chronic exposure to loud noises and aging are the two main causes of hearing loss, resulting in muffled speech from others, difficulty understanding words, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, loud volume on the television or radio, and avoidance of social settings. Hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear, infection in the ear, or ruptured eardrum. Damage to the inner ear Continued on page 22 >