Many elderly people think that it is natural for their eyesight to decline as their bodies age and their organ functions decline, and that they should not be concerned as long as their eyes are not red, swollen or painful. Age-related physiological changes in the eyes only show a certain degree of difficulty in reading (seeing close), that is, “presbyopia”. This is the result of the decline in eye regulation, with a suitable pair of presbyopic glasses can solve the problem. Other than that, the vision of healthy elderly people does not decline because of ageing. If an elderly person’s distance vision decreases, even if it is not accompanied by redness and pain, it is not a normal phenomenon. At this time, you should consult a doctor for prompt examination and treatment. The most common related eye diseases are as follows: Age-related cataract This is the most common age-related eye disease, and it is thought that it may be related to ultraviolet radiation and increased lens peroxidation, which may appear as a mosquito-like dark shadow at the beginning of the disease. Nowadays, the technology of cataract surgery is very advanced, so patients with senile cataracts do not have to wait until the cataract is fully matured and the eyes are blind before going for treatment. Generally speaking, as long as cataract patients feel that their vision loss is affecting their lives and work, they can have their vision restored through surgery. Embolism of the central retinal artery The nerve cells in the retina, which are responsible for collecting; organizing and transmitting visual information, are supplied with blood from the central retinal artery in the skull. This artery, like the cerebral and coronary arteries, has no anastomosing branches. Once blocked, the retinal blood supply is immediately interrupted, causing sudden blindness in the affected eye. Most of the causes of this disease in the elderly are caused by hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, the prevention method is to treat and control hypertension and hyperlipidemia. In case of a sudden embolism of the central retinal artery, it is important to rush to the hospital for emergency treatment. If an elderly person with coronary heart disease suffers from sudden blindness in one or both eyes, he or she can use anti-anginal drugs to help himself or herself while rushing to the hospital, and there is still hope for recovery of vision as long as the diagnosis and treatment are timely. In some patients, before the occurrence of arterial embolism, there is a brief loss of vision for 1-3 minutes, i.e. “transient blackout”, although the vision is restored after the attack, it is the precursor of central retinal artery embolism, which should not be taken lightly. Central retinal vein obstruction The central retinal vein runs alongside the artery in the retina and often intersects with each other. Therefore… Therefore, arteriosclerosis of hypertension hardens the walls of arteries, which can compress the accompanying veins and make them blocked, and then venous filling, stagnation and extensive retinal hemorrhage occur. Prevention still starts with controlling atherosclerosis. Hypertensive atherosclerosis fundus lesions Hypertensive atherosclerosis does not necessarily cause visual impairment, but if the vascular lesion narrows or blocks the branches of the central retinal artery, then edema, exudation or hemorrhage will occur in the corresponding local area of the retina due to ischemia; this leads to a decrease in retinal function and affects vision. Similar lesions may occur in renal hypertension and diabetic hypertension, so these patients should have regular fundus examinations; to prevent the problem before it occurs. Hypertensive atherosclerotic fundus lesions are best treated with the cooperation of an internist and an ophthalmologist. Diabetic eye complications Diabetes can damage more than just the retina; the incidence of diabetic cataracts is also quite high. In addition, if a diabetic patient has neovascularization or bleeding in the eye, it can also raise the eye pressure and cause secondary glaucoma. There are also some patients with sudden onset of diplopia due to paralysis of the eye muscles. Due to the interference of diabetes with various systems of the body and the complexity of eye damage, once it causes visual impairment, it is more difficult to treat. Therefore, diabetic patients must adhere to regular treatment and make comprehensive eye examination a routine part of follow-up review. Tobacco and alcohol can poison the optic nerve and affect vision. Older people who are addicted to alcohol and tobacco are more likely to develop this disease than younger people because they have been ingesting tobacco and alcohol for a long time and their metabolism tends to slow down and their detoxification ability decreases. Tobacco and alcohol toxic amblyopia often manifests as a gradual loss of vision in both eyes, especially in the evening or when light is low. However, in the early stages of the disease, eye examinations are difficult to detect abnormalities, and only visual field examinations can help in the diagnosis. In the late stage, the optic nerve atrophies and treatment is more difficult; obviously, staying away from smoking and alcohol is the best remedy for the elderly to protect their eyesight. Age-related macular degeneration, also known as “age-related macular degeneration”, is a special lesion in the macula of the elderly. The macular area of the affected eye shows exudation, degeneration or subretinal hemorrhage. Since the macula is the most visually sensitive area of the retina, this disease has a significant impact on vision. The etiology of this disease is not well understood and medication is very ineffective; treatment with laser has achieved some results. Appropriate supplementation of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, in early lesions can help to reduce the damage. In the future, successful retinal transplantation will bring light to patients. One’s eyes should not fade in old age, and vision loss should be seen by a doctor in time; only then can old age be filled with light.