Crossed 40? Regular eye check-up is mandatory

After 40 years of age, regular eye check-up is essential to prevent age-related eye diseases, says Dr S Sumathi, clinical head, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai, in an interview with Sinduja Jane. Edited excerpts:

- Dr S Sumathi

After 40 years of age, regular eye check-up is essential to prevent age-related eye diseases, says Dr S Sumathi, clinical head, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai, in an interview with Sinduja Jane. Edited excerpts:

What are age-related eye problems? There are several conditions that are common after a person crosses 40 years of age. First and foremost is presbyopia, where the patient will experience difficulty with near vision. Cataract (clouding of the natural crystalline lens), glaucoma, high-pressure related nerve damage, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes and hypertension related changes, and dryness are some of the age-related eye problems. If diabetes and hypertension are not under control, it can lead to retinopathic changes, which will again affect the quality of vision. So, regular eye checkup is advised after 40 years to prevent eye diseases.