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Significant changes can occur in the eye during this stage of life, the most prevalent being presbyopia. Most people by the age of 40 or 45 begin to notice that their "arms are too short" to holding reading materials. The natural process of aging causes a deterioration in the ability of the eye's natural crystalline lens (See Anatomy of the Eye) to expand or contract in order to focus on close objects. Those who are nearsighted may not notice this problem until later in life because their eyes are shaped in such a way as to allow better clasp vision. Eventually, however, most people require reading glasses or some type of multifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses to cope with this naturally occurring vision deficiency.
For a person in this age bracket, regular eye examinations are important to detect eye diseases and disorders that become more prevalent in maturity. Some of these serious eye problems, glaucoma for instance, show no symptoms and can be detected only through an eye examination. Sometimes called "the thief in the night," it can result in significant eye damage with no noticeable symptoms. Glaucoma is caused by a gradual buildup of pressure inside the eye causing damage to the optic nerve. Effective treatments are available if the disease is caught early, but damage cannot be reversed after it has occurred. Those with a family history of glaucoma and anyone of African-American heritage should be especially watchful after the age of 35.
Dry eye syndrome is another condition that occurs in the middle years. It appears as dry, itchy, burning, red eyes that are sensitive to light. If the dry eye is mild to moderate, eye doctors recommend artificial tears or eye lubricant drops, gels, or ointments. For severe dry eye, the doctor may perform a simple, nonsurgical procedure to ease the dryness. A small plug called a punctal plug is inserted in the eye's tear drains, decreasing the amount of tears that escape.
Other helpful tips that reduce the effects of dry eye include the following:
Dry eye may also cause significant problems for contact lens wearers and may require a switch to another type of vision correction.
Computers are a problem.
In addition to the usual problems associated with long-term use of a computer, presbyopia can cause even more inconvenience as eyes age. Bifocals, for instance, which combine a prescription for reading with one for distance, offer nothing for the mid-range viewing required by a computer terminal. Or, if the near vision part of the glasses is used, it requires constantly tipping the head back in order to see the computer screen.
Anyone who uses a computer on a daily basis should ask the eye doctor or optician about a pair of prescription "computer glasses" designed specifically for the mid-range (neither close nor distant) viewing of a video display terminal. These glasses may be a bifocal with near vision at the bottom and mid-range at the top, or they may be full, single-vision lenses with the wearer's near-vision prescription only. The purchase of an extra pair of eyeglasses is an excellent investment for those who spend time in front of a computer.
Dry eye syndrome can also be a big problem for computer users because people blink less often when looking at a computer screen. When using a computer, try to remember to blink frequently and take intermittent breaks to ease eye fatigue. Ask your eye doctor about lubricating drops if your eyes continue to feel dry and tired.
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