Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Topic Page:
Vision and Eye Care
View All Vision Health Alerts • View All Vision Special Reports
The most common eye diseases in people over age 50 are cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, if you have one of these eye disorders and are treated early enough, the progression of disease can often be slowed or even halted, helping you return to daily activities such as driving, grocery shopping, reading, and performing household tasks.
In fact, more than 80 percent of the 14 million Americans over age 12 with vision impairment could be helped by corrective lenses. In addition to medication and surgery, you can take steps on your own to make it easier to live with an eye disorder. An array of low-vision aids also is available.
Because most eye disorders cause no symptoms in their early stages, many people are unaware when one first develops. Surveys by researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that about one-third of people with an eye disease were unaware of it prior to receiving their diagnosis, and over one-third of those between the ages of 65 and 84 had not visited an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor with specialty training in eye diseases) during the previous year. Periodic visits to an eye-care specialist are crucial to detect conditions early enough to allow for effective treatment.
How Johns Hopkins can help. If you or someone you care about has a vision problem, obtaining accurate information is an important part of the treatment plan. Johns Hopkins Medicine is ideally positioned to provide you with timely, authoritative information and advice on treating cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other vision conditions. Johns Hopkins is ranked No. 2 in Ophthalmology by U.S. News and World Report's annual Rankings of American hospitals.
- At Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, Susan B. Bressler, M.D., Harry A. Quigley M.D., Oliver D. Schein, M.D., M.P.H., and other leading ophthalmologists at Johns Hopkins’ renowned Wilmer Eye Institute discuss the prevention, diagnosis, and management of vision problems affecting older adults.
- You’ll find articles on: living better with low vision, slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, promising therapies for macular edema, coping with dry eye, omega-3s and vision, LASIK surgery, food for the eyes, and much more.
For more information on Vision please visit the BOOKSTORE .
