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of these conditions.

✦ Eyelid problems can come from

different diseases or conditions.Common eyelid problems includered and swollen eyelids, itching,tearing, being sensitive to light, andcrusting of eyelashes during sleep.This condition is called blepharitis(ble-fa-RI-tis) and may be treatedwith warm compresses. Other lesscommon eyelid problems, such asswelling or growths, can be treatedwith medicine or surgery.

Eye Diseases and DisordersThe following eye problems can leadto vision loss and blindness. Oftenthey have few or no symptoms. Havingregular eye exams is the best way toprotect yourself. If your eye care professional finds a problem early there arethings you can do to keep your eyesight.✦ Cataracts are cloudy areas in the

eye’s lens causing loss of eyesight.Cataracts often form slowly withoutany symptoms. Some stay smalland don’t change eyesight verymuch. Others may become largeor dense and harm vision. Cataractsurgery can help. Your eye care

y 

common surgeries done in theUnited States.

✦ Corneal diseases and conditions

can cause redness, watery eyes,pain, lower vision, or a halo effect.The cornea is the clear, domeshaped “window” at the front ofthe eye. Disease, infection, injury,and other things can hurt thecornea. Some corneal conditionsare more common in olderpeople. Treatments for cornealproblems can be simple. You mayjust need to change your eyeglassprescription and use eye drops. Insevere cases, corneal transplantation is the treatment. It generallyworks well and is safe.

✦ Dry eye happens when tear glands

don’t work well. You may feelitching, burning, or have somevision loss. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especiallyamong women. Your eye careprofessional may tell you to usea home humidifier, or special eyedrops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye. In seriouscases special contact lenses orsurgery may help.
4

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mes they

problems.

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of presbyo

headaches

ead or do

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or “cob

across

tice them

oors on

n be a

ometimes

e serious

nal

many new

f light

ional

dered

any tears)

itive to

re changes.

earing

may solve

tearing

care professional can treat bothof these conditions.

✦ Eyelid problems can come from

different diseases or conditions.Common eyelid problems includered and swollen eyelids, itching,tearing, being sensitive to light, andcrusting of eyelashes during sleep.This condition is called blepharitis(ble-fa-RI-tis) and may be treatedwith warm compresses. Other lesscommon eyelid problems, such asswelling or growths, can be treatedwith medicine or surgery.

Eye Diseases and DisordersThe following eye problems can leadto vision loss and blindness. Oftenthey have few or no symptoms. Havingregular eye exams is the best way toprotect yourself. If your eye care professional finds a problem early there arethings you can do to keep your eyesight.✦ Cataracts are cloudy areas in the

eye’s lens causing loss of eyesight.Cataracts often form slowly withoutany symptoms. Some stay smalland don’t change eyesight verymuch. Others may become largeor dense and harm vision. Cataractsurgery can help. Your eye care

is very safe. It is one of the mostcommon surgeries done in theUnited States.

✦ Corneal diseases and conditions

can cause redness, watery eyes,pain, lower vision, or a halo effect.The cornea is the clear, domeshaped “window” at the front ofthe eye. Disease, infection, injury,and other things can hurt thecornea. Some corneal conditionsare more common in olderpeople. Treatments for cornealproblems can be simple. You mayjust need to change your eyeglassprescription and use eye drops. Insevere cases, corneal transplantation is the treatment. It generallyworks well and is safe.

✦ Dry eye happens when tear glands

don’t work well. You may feelitching, burning, or have somevision loss. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especiallyamong women. Your eye careprofessional may tell you to usea home humidifier, or special eyedrops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye. In seriouscases special contact lenses orsurgery may help.
4

4

5

nal

many new

f light

ional

dered

any tears)

itive to

re changes.

earing

may solve

tearing

they have few or no symptoms. Havingregular eye exams is the best way toprotect yourself. If your eye care professional finds a problem early there arethings you can do to keep your eyesight.✦ Cataracts are cloudy areas in the

eye’s lens causing loss of eyesight.Cataracts often form slowly withoutany symptoms. Some stay smalland don’t change eyesight verymuch. Others may become largeor dense and harm vision. Cataractsurgery can help. Your eye care

✦ Dry eye happens when tear glands

don’t work well. You may feelitching, burning, or have somevision loss. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especiallyamong women. Your eye careprofessional may tell you to usea home humidifier, or special eyedrops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye. In seriouscases special contact lenses orsurgery may help.
9

g 

esight.

e as they

nnot fix

tact lenses,

et in the

ine. You

 enough

 reading,

 of friends

et signs; or

m as

problems,

al to test

e special

e with low

10

p

g

may help:✦ Write with bold, black felt-tip

markers.

✦ Use paper with bold lines to

help you write in a straight line.

✦ Put colored tape on the edge

of your steps to help you keepfrom falling.

✦ Install dark-colored light switches

and electrical outlets that you cansee easily against light-colored walls.

✦ Use motion lights that turn on

by themselves when you enter aroom. These may help you avoidaccidents caused by poor lighting.

✦ Use telephones, clocks, and

watches with large numbers;put large-print labels on themicrowave and stove.

For More InformationTo learn more about eye health,contact:National Eye Institute (NEI)National Institutes of Health2020 Vision PlaceBethesda, MD 20892-3655301-496-5248www.nei.nih.gov

Information CenterP.O. Box 8057Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057800-222-2225 (toll-free)800-222-4225 (TTY toll-free)To order publications (in English orSpanish) or sign up for regular emailalerts, visit: www.niapublications.org.The National Institute on Agingwebsite is www.nia.nih.gov.Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a seniorfriendly website from the National

Institute on Aging and the NationalLibrary of Medicine. This simple-touse website features popular healthtopics for older adults. It has largetype and a ‘talking’ function thatreads the text out loud.

U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthOctober 2005
9

g 

esight.

e as they

nnot fix

tact lenses,

et in the

ine. You

 enough

 reading,

 of friends

et signs; or

m as

problems,

al to test

e special

e with low

10

p

g

may help:✦ Write with bold, black felt-tip

markers.

✦ Use paper with bold lines to

help you write in a straight line.

✦ Put colored tape on the edge

of your steps to help you keepfrom falling.

✦ Install dark-colored light switches

and electrical outlets that you cansee easily against light-colored walls.

✦ Use motion lights that turn on

by themselves when you enter aroom. These may help you avoidaccidents caused by poor lighting.

✦ Use telephones, clocks, and

watches with large numbers;put large-print labels on themicrowave and stove.

For More InformationTo learn more about eye health,contact:National Eye Institute (NEI)National Institutes of Health2020 Vision PlaceBethesda, MD 20892-3655301-496-5248www.nei.nih.gov

Information CenterP.O. Box 8057Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057800-222-2225 (toll-free)800-222-4225 (TTY toll-free)To order publications (in English orSpanish) or sign up for regular emailalerts, visit: www.niapublications.org.The National Institute on Agingwebsite is www.nia.nih.gov.Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov(www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a seniorfriendly website from the National

Institute on Aging and the NationalLibrary of Medicine. This simple-touse website features popular healthtopics for older adults. It has largetype and a ‘talking’ function thatreads the text out loud.

U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthOctober 2005
9

problems,

al to test

e special

e with low

10

put large-print labels on themicrowave and stove.

For More InformationTo learn more about eye health,contact:National Eye Institute (NEI)National Institutes of Health2020 Vision PlaceBethesda, MD 20892-3655301-496-5248www.nei.nih.gov

use website features popular healthtopics for older adults. It has largetype and a ‘talking’ function thatreads the text out loud.

U.S. Department of Health andHuman ServicesNational Institutes of HealthOctober 2005