4 Eye Diseases You Need to Know About if You're 40+

Your eyes are not only the windows to your soul but also to your health. That’s we recommend you have regular eye exams starting at age 40—even if you have no vision issues. That’s not to say that you don’t need an eye exam if you’re younger. But after age 40, you are more susceptible to signs of aging, which can lead to debilitating—and even dangerous—conditions if not caught early, especially if you have a family history.

So, let’s look at four eye diseases you need to know about if you’re age 40 or over.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages your eye's optic nerve, which communicates visual cues to your brain. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). More than three million people in the U.S. suffer with glaucoma—but only half of them know. If it’s caught early enough, it can be treated.

There are a few forms of glaucoma, and some have no symptoms at the start. As eye pressure increases, blind spots can develop in your peripheral vision. Regular eye exams can catch this early before the blind spots grow and affect your daily living and quality of live. Your doctor may prescribe medicated eye drops, although surgery may also be an option. Without treatment, vision loss can start with your peripheral vision and grow into total blindness.

If you have a family history of eye disease or if you are of African, Latino, or Asian heritage, you may be at an increased risk for glaucoma.

Macular Degeneration
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Macular degeneration occurs when an area in your retina, that helps you see fine details clearly, starts to break down. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in U.S. adults. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), the number of people with AMD is estimated to more than double from about 2.07 million now to 5.44 million by the year 2050.

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