HEALTH

Eye diseases: the most common after the age of 40 and the associated risks

Eye diseases can affect people of all ages, but after the age of 40, the likelihood of developing a number of diseases that can have serious consequences for vision increases.

From this age, in fact, our organism undergoes a natural ageing process that can compromise the health of the eyes, exposing them to specific risks.

We will analyse the most common eye diseases after the age of 40 and the associated risks in order to provide an overview of the most common visual disorders. (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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Eye diseases: the most common after age 40 and associated risks
Eye diseases can affect people of all ages, but after the age of 40, the likelihood of developing a number of diseases that can have serious consequences for vision increases. From this age, in fact, our organism undergoes a natural ageing process that can compromise the health of the eyes, exposing them to specific risks. We will analyse the most common eye diseases after the age of 40 and the associated risks in order to provide an overview of the most common visual disorders. (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Wikimedia - James Heilman
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of ocular conditions that damage the optic nerve, the nerve located at the back of the eye, causing increased eye pressure. This condition can affect one or both eyes and if not diagnosed in time, can lead to complete loss of vision.
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Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding (opacity) of the crystalline lens that causes a progressive and painless loss of vision. The crystalline lens is the lens that is indispensable for focusing images on the retina behind the coloured part of the eye, the iris. It is a problem that tends to occur after the age of 60, but can also strike at a young age and can be resolved with surgery.
Wikimedia - National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD)
AMD causes blurred or reduced central vision in one or both eyes. This condition is caused by damage to the back of the eye in an area called the macula, which is responsible for detailed vision. Age (over 60 years) is one of the associated risk factors, along with smoking and genetics.
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Risks related to eye diseases
Diseases affecting eyesight can have revealing consequences for older people: the greatest risks are falls and injuries, which are related to the risk of reduced quality of life and daily functioning.
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Risks related to eye diseases
Other risks related to the onset of these illnesses are social isolation, depression and increased difficulty in following health and medication instructions.
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