Staying Fit & Focused at 40

How to stay fit and focused at forty

• Know your eyes; understand the warning signs of changes in your vision.
• Have your eyes examined regularly by your optometrist. Eye examinations attract a Medicare rebate and no referral is required.
• Discuss any visual tasks undertaken in your daily occupation with your optometrist, who may consider specially designed lenses for you.
• Eat for your eyes; include plenty of vitamin C, vitamin E, Zinc and Beta-carotene (dark green leafy vegetables).

Latest studies show that eye disease and visual impairment increase three-fold with each decade of life after 40 years of age.

“From the age of 40 onwards everyone will experience changes in their near visions”

This condition, known as presbyopia, makes vision difficult at a normal reading distance and is a natural part of the ageing process.

To focus on close objects, a muscle in the eye changes the shape of the lens.  When we get older the lens loses its flexibility and is less able to change its shape, making it difficult to focus on close objects.

People with presbyopia may have difficulty concentrating when reading or may find that periods of close work result in sore eyes, headaches or tiredness.

Just like stiffening joints or greying hair, presbyopia cannot be prevented, but fortunately it can be easily corrected with spectacles or lenses.

As your ability to focus weakens, you will need to have regular eye examinations every two years and may need your prescription changed every few years.

Advances in optical technology have provided more options for patients, sometimes enabling us to help ageing patients focus almost as they did as a twenty year old.

For example, multifocal contact lenses, allowing patients to focus at all distances, are becoming popular with baby boomers who find this form of vision correction the best way to maintain their active lifestyle. Over the last year, multifocal contact lens fittings increased by 20% in Australia.

Regular examinations are essential for people over the age of 40 to stay fit and focused and to make sure any eye conditions are detected early, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

For an eye examination call

WA Opticians Associates

Perth CBD (08) 9325 3254

Claisebrook (East Perth) (08) 9221 0577

View this PDF brochure

(Requires Adobe Reader)

Glaucoma steals sight from the unwary

Optometrists at WA Opticians can detect glaucoma by looking at the structure of your eyes and testing your peripheral vision.

People over 40 years and thos

Glaucoma affects more than 300,000 Australians.  It is a disease in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed.  This prevents visual information getting from the eye to the brain.  In most people this damage is associated with a higher than average pressure inside the eye and the condition can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Glaucoma usually progresses slowly, gradually destroying the edges of your visual field. The disease can go undetected because 90% of our attention is devoted to our central vision.  A person with glaucoma tends not to notice anything until the growing blind spots in each eye overlap each other. This damage is irreversible and eventually causes blindness.  Treatment can only slow the deterioration, not prevent it, so it is important to detect the problem and start treatment as early as possible.  If glaucoma is identified early and treated appropriately, good eyesight can usually be maintained.

Those with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk of developing the disease. Diabetes or an eye injury can also increase risk and, while glaucoma is associated with the elderly, younger people can also develop the condition.

Frequent routine eye examinations are the best way to detect glaucoma.  They play a crucial roll in preventing blindness and give the best chance of managing the condition.

UV Protection helps prevent Ptyerygia

A ptyerygium is a growth of tissue, often triangular shaped, that usually starts in one corner of the eye and can grow onto the cornea.

Ptyerygia can occur in both eyes and although they can look unsightly and cause some discomfort, they are benign lesions and are usually not dangerous.

The exact causes of ptyerygia are not known but exposure to ultraviolet rays over a long period is a risk factor. Harsh condtions such as heat, dryness, wind, dust and smoke can cause inflammation and irritation of existing ptyerygia and heredity is thought to play a role in their development.

Pterygia are more often seen in people from tropical climates as experienced in Northern Australia, but are also found in those who spend a great deal of time outdoors.

The best way to reduce your risk of developing a ptyerygium is to wear sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.

Optometrists at WA Opticians can provide advise about purchasing a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes against UV radiation.

In many cases, protecting your eyes from ultravoilet rays will stabilise a ptergium if it is not actively growing.

In cases where the ptergium grows onto the cornea and distorts vision, the only effective treatment is surgical removal. Fortunately, this requires relatively minor surgery, which is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. As pterygia often grow back after surgery, prevention is better than cure.

If you have an area of raised tissue on or around your eyes, we recommend consulting your Optometrist to have it diagnosed.