We all know eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are essential for staying healthy. Another important part? Routine doctor exams—including eye exams. Taking care of yourself and getting annual eye exams can help protect your vision as you age. 

Did you know the leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are age-related eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma?  

Early detection of these diseases is essential to preserving your vision for as long as possible. These diseases often don’t have symptoms in the beginning, so they can go unnoticed. However, early signs can be detected by an eye doctor, which is why having your eyes checked each year is essential. 

We’ll take a look at these four diseases and what you can do to protect your eyes. 

1. Diabetic Retinopathy  

If you have diabetes, you may be at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. This disease occurs when blood vessels in the retina become damaged. High blood sugar levels can cause this progressive disease, ultimately impacting your vision. 

While there are often no early signs of diabetic retinopathy, symptoms noticed as it progresses can include: 

• Blurry vision 
• Increased eye floaters
• Poor night vision 
• Blank areas in your field of vision 
• Colors appearing washed out or faded 

If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels stable can help protect retinal blood vessels and preserve your vision. 

2. Cataracts  

Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy. Most people over the age of 60 have some clouding of their lenses. However, many people don’t notice them until years later, when the cataracts worsen and start impacting their vision. 

As cataracts progress, you may notice symptoms such as: 

• Blurry vision 
• Trouble seeing at night 
• Distorted vision 
• Light sensitivity 
• Seeing colors as faded or with a yellow hue 

Your eye doctor will watch for signs of cataracts during your annual eye exams. Sometimes it takes a while for cataracts to significantly affect your vision. Once cataracts make it hard for you to see, you’ll need surgery to replace the cloudy lens. 

3. Glaucoma  

You’ve likely heard about glaucoma, but what exactly is it? Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in the eye. This damage can result in vision loss and even blindness. 

There are usually no noticeable symptoms of glaucoma until the disease has advanced. Because glaucoma progresses so gradually, many people don’t notice blind spots and vision loss until their glaucoma is severe. This is why it’s so important for your eye doctor to watch for early signs during an eye exam. 

Vision loss caused by glaucoma cannot be restored. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma is critical for preserving your vision for as long as possible. That’s one of the reasons why annual eye exams are so important.

If you’re diagnosed with glaucoma, your eye doctor will work with you to manage and slow your symptoms. 

4. Macular Degeneration  

The macula is a small area in your retina that captures detailed information, such as color and contrast perception. As we age, the macula can begin to deteriorate. When this happens, the macula can’t receive images correctly, ultimately impacting our vision. This condition is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

AMD has no signs in its early stages, and your vision isn’t affected right away. Left untreated, however, the disease can progress, and you may start to notice: 

• Wavy or blurry vision 
• Distorted vision 
• A dark or empty area of vision 

While AMD cannot completely be prevented, you can lower your risk by keeping your blood pressure in check, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. 

See Your Eye Doctor 

While all of these diseases eventually impact vision and often have no early warning signs, they all have one more thing in common: your eye doctor can detect signs of these conditions, sometimes before you even notice symptoms.  

In fact, eye doctors can detect signs of more than 270 health conditions through an eye exam, making them an essential part of your healthcare team. Getting your annual eye exam is an easy way to help preserve your vision for as long as possible. 

If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, be sure to schedule an exam with a VSP^® network doctor near you. 

Need Vision Coverage? 

If you need to visit an eye doctor but don’t have access to vision insurance, we’ve got you covered. Shop VSP Individual Vision Plans to find the eye coverage and savings you need to keep your eyes healthy and help you see your best—all at a price you can afford. 

 

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Article provided by VSP. Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.