Is declining eyesight apart of getting older? Well the answer to that question is yes and no. for us older Americans who fail to get the proper preventive care, our vision will continue to get worse with age. Most of us can expect by age 65 to have some sort of eye impairment, but with a proactive mindset toward preserving our eyesight we can off set the inevitable. Most importantly, never assume that your vision irregularities are just a regular process of getting older.

Preventive eye care is crucial to maintaining good eyesight. See your eye doctor once a year and protect your eyes from the suns ultraviolet rays by wearing quality sun glasses.

Some of the most common eye disorders that affect us seniors are diabetic eye disease and cataracts.

Diabetic Eye Disease: Diabetic eye disease should be taken very seriously, it can actually cause blindness. Many of us with diabetes mellitus may not even be aware that we have the disease. The sudden shifts and changes in blood sugar can cause vision to become very blurry. To combat and possibly prevent diabetic eye disease we should always strive to maintain a proper weight with regular exercise and good healthy eating. Also stay away from smoking at all times

Cataracts: Cataracts should not be taken lightly; the disease clouds the lens in the eye that affects our vision. As we get older we sometimes develop protein that bundles together and clouds a small area of the lens which over time can grow even bigger and seriously impair our vision. Some symptoms are bad night vision and blurry vision. Fortunately, cataracts can be removed with surgery if necessary.

Nevada has a Disability RX Vision benefit program. The program was developed to give low income seniors and those with verifiable disability assistance with the cost of prescriptions and medications. To be eligible for the program participants must be 62 or older and have one year of continuous residency prior to the date of application in Nevada.

Don’t take your eyesight for granted, so many of us fail to realize the beauty and importance of good vision. Good vision plays the most important role in our every day life, and failure to keep our eyesight in moderate condition can be devastating. Imagine not being able to read the local paper, sign a contract, or even having the privilege to drive a car, well these are just some of the reason for us older Americans to make sure that we get yearly eye exams.