Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Western Journal of Medicine logoLink to The Western Journal of Medicine
. 1997 Oct;167(4):253–257.

Seeing into the future. Vision and aging.

R E Kalina 1
PMCID: PMC1304540  PMID: 9348756

Abstract

The leading causes of visual impairment in North Americans are age-related, but appropriate care can preserve useful vision for most older adults. Cataract surgery is highly successful. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma can prevent vision loss. Laser treatment is remarkably effective against diabetic retinopathy. Vision loss due to macular degeneration cannot be delayed in all patients, but low-vision rehabilitation can maximize the usefulness of remaining sight.

Full text

PDF
253

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Cronin-Golomb A., Corkin S., Rizzo J. F., Cohen J., Growdon J. H., Banks K. S. Visual dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: relation to normal aging. Ann Neurol. 1991 Jan;29(1):41–52. doi: 10.1002/ana.410290110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Curcio C. A., Drucker D. N. Retinal ganglion cells in Alzheimer's disease and aging. Ann Neurol. 1993 Mar;33(3):248–257. doi: 10.1002/ana.410330305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Curcio C. A., Millican C. L., Allen K. A., Kalina R. E. Aging of the human photoreceptor mosaic: evidence for selective vulnerability of rods in central retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993 Nov;34(12):3278–3296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ferris F. L., 3rd How effective are treatments for diabetic retinopathy? JAMA. 1993 Mar 10;269(10):1290–1291. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gao H., Hollyfield J. G. Aging of the human retina. Differential loss of neurons and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992 Jan;33(1):1–17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gilmartin B. The aetiology of presbyopia: a summary of the role of lenticular and extralenticular structures. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 1995 Sep;15(5):431–437. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Klein B. E., Klein R., Linton K. L. Intraocular pressure in an American community. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992 Jun;33(7):2224–2228. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Klein B. E., Klein R., Linton K. L. Prevalence of age-related lens opacities in a population. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1992 Apr;99(4):546–552. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31934-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Klein R., Klein B. E., Jensen S. C., Meuer S. M. The five-year incidence and progression of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1997 Jan;104(1):7–21. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(97)30368-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Klein R., Klein B. E., Moss S. E. Age-related eye disease and survival. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol. 1995 Mar;113(3):333–339. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1995.01100030089026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Koretz J. F., Kaufman P. L., Neider M. W., Goeckner P. A. Accommodation and presbyopia in the human eye--aging of the anterior segment. Vision Res. 1989;29(12):1685–1692. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(89)90150-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Mathers W. D., Lane J. A., Zimmerman M. B. Tear film changes associated with normal aging. Cornea. 1996 May;15(3):229–234. doi: 10.1097/00003226-199605000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Quigley H. A., Vitale S. Models of open-angle glaucoma prevalence and incidence in the United States. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997 Jan;38(1):83–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Salive M. E., Guralnik J., Christen W., Glynn R. J., Colsher P., Ostfeld A. M. Functional blindness and visual impairment in older adults from three communities. Ophthalmology. 1992 Dec;99(12):1840–1847. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31715-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Steinberg E. P., Tielsch J. M., Schein O. D., Javitt J. C., Sharkey P., Cassard S. D., Legro M. W., Diener-West M., Bass E. B., Damiano A. M. National study of cataract surgery outcomes. Variation in 4-month postoperative outcomes as reflected in multiple outcome measures. Ophthalmology. 1994 Jun;101(6):1131–1141. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(94)31210-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Vingerling J. R., Hofman A., Grobbee D. E., de Jong P. T. Age-related macular degeneration and smoking. The Rotterdam Study. Arch Ophthalmol. 1996 Oct;114(10):1193–1196. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1996.01100140393005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Western Journal of Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES