Good news for aging eyes | Health Source

Parents today reported fewer problems with visual disability than their counterparts generation ago, according to a new Northwestern study drug. Techniques for cataract surgery and reduce the prevalence of macular degeneration the driving force behind this change, the researchers said.

?From 1984 to 2010, a decrease of visual impairment in people 65 years and older was statistically significant,? says Angelo P. Tanna, MD, lead author of the study. ?There is little change in visual impairment in adults younger than 65 years.?

Less reduce visual problems

The research, published in the journal Ophthalmology, showed that in 1984, 23% of older adults have difficulty reading or seeing every day because of the impression of poor vision. In 2010, it was down 58% adjusted for age in this type of visual impairment, with only 9.7% of parents reported problems.

There was also a substantial decrease in vision problems limited to older Americans to participate in the day-to-day activities such as bathing, dressing or getting around inside or outside the home, according to the study.

?This result is exciting because they suggest that the currently used screening and diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for a variety of ophthalmic diseases helps to extend the vision of older Americans,? : Tanna said.

Tanna is a vice president of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Stephen Kaye, Institute for Health and Aging and Disability Statistics Center, University of California, is the author of both studies.

The results

The study used self-reported data collected through two surveys a large population 1984-2010, and the National Health Interview Survey of Income and Program Participation.

Survey questions revealed how vision problems can affect day-to-day activities and quality of life for Americans and help researchers to analyze the trends in the prevalence of visual impairment in the elderly in the United States.

Although this study does not identify the causes of variation in prevalence of visual impairment, Tanna said there are three possible reasons for rejection:

Improved techniques and results of cataract surgery

In the smoke, resulting in reduced prevalence of macular degeneration

Treatment for diabetic eye disease more readily available and to upgrade, despite the fact that the prevalence of diabetes has increased

Future studies should determine the treatment strategy to help prevent vision in older adults and then make the treatment available to as many people as possible, Tanna said.

Source: http://youthhealth2012.com/2013/03/good-news-for-aging-eyes.html

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