Alabama Seniors Eyes Have Better Vision

“Alabama seniors have a reason to be pleased about their vision-their aging eyes have better vision than in the past,” stated Birmingham eye surgeon Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. Studies presented in Ophthalmology-the official publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology-show that there has been a significant decrease is vision loss in older Americans. “The prevalence of activity-limiting visual impairment has been and is continuing to decrease- this is really great news for Alabama seniors. I believe that better cataract surgery and lens implants, better diabetes treatment and control and a sharp decrease in smoking all play a role in why seniors now have better overall chances of preserving their eye health and vision,” Dr. Michelson stated. 

Modern cataract surgery-with advanced technology lens implants has become routine and complications are pretty unusual. Years ago, people waited until a cataract was so bad that even a poor surgical result was better than living with a cataract. Today, when the presence of a cataract impairs either the quality of vision or the quality of life, the techniques and procedures allow for safe and effective cataract surgery to be performed.

Today, only 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes as compared to 1 in 3 in the 1980s. Smoking is a major risk factor for macular degeneration, which is one of the most common vision impairing eye diseases in seniors.

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and age and obesity are leading risk factors for diabetes. Even though diabetes rates in the U.S. continue to climb, better therapies are now available to prevent and treat diabetes-related eye health vision problems. 

To some extent, seniors have helped preserve eye health and vision by taking the step of having regular eye exams which are quite important for everyone as they age, especially people with diabetes and other health conditions that can lead to vision loss. 

If you have questions about aging eyes senior vision care and eye problems and need an eye exam please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision. 

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.