Getting older also affects your eyes. They begin to produce fewer tears and also undergo structural changes: The retinas get thinner, the lenses get cloudier, and the irises lose flexibility, all of which mean loss in eyesight. In addition, seniors with diabetes are at risk of diabetic retinopathy, which can also cause vision problems.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. It doesn't hurt, but it can interfere with your vision and make it harder to read or drive a car. Age is the biggest risk factor for cataracts: About half of Americans over the age of sixty-five have some degree of cataract formation, and by the age of seventy-five, about 70 percent have cataracts serious enough to interfere with their vision.

Other factors that can contribute to cataracts include diabetes, excessive sun exposure, smoking, and prolonged use of corticosteroid medications.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States, is actually a group of diseases that create excessive pressure inside the eye and damage the optic nerve, which takes the images that your retina picks up and transfers them to your brain. Glaucoma can reduce your peripheral vision or create “blind spots.” If left untreated, it can cause total blindness.

As with cataracts, age is the biggest risk factor (anyone over sixty is considered at risk). Glaucoma strikes blacks and Hispanics more often than whites, and is also more common in people who are nearsighted. Other risk factors include diabetes and corticosteroid use.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of blindness and serious vision loss in seniors and affects more than 10 million Americans. AMD involves deterioration of the macula, which are cells shaped like cones and rods in your retina that control your ability to see what's in the center of your field of vision.

Age is the biggest factor in developing AMD, but it's also more common in women and whites (especially people with light-colored eyes). Cardiovascular disease, smoking, obesity, and long-term exposure to sunlight can also up your risk.

Diabetic Retinopathy

As its name implies, this is a disease of the retina that often accompanies diabetes — in fact, as many as 45 percent of diabetics have some degree of retinopathy. It's caused by diabetes-induced damage to the blood vessels in the retina and can create symptoms ranging from mild vision problems to total blindness. It's one of the biggest causes of blindness in U.S. adults. For more on diabetes, see Chapter 7.

Treatments for Eye Troubles

Because these conditions can advance rapidly and cause serious consequences, you should see your doctor immediately if you experience any significant changes in your vision. Advanced cases of eye disease may require surgery or other procedures (macular degeneration is sometimes treated with a laser).

Anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are also prescribed in some cases. Several herbs have been proven effective in preventing eye diseases and lessening their progression and symptoms. They include:

• Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)	Bilberry and its cousin the blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) contain a number of antioxidants. They've been proven effective against several age-related eye disorders, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinopathy caused by diabetes and hypertension.
• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)	Ginkgo has proven antioxidant effects and has been shown to improve vision in people with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and AMD.
• Grape (Vitis vinifera)	Grape seeds contain powerful antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, which reduce oxidative damage to eye tissues. Research shows that grape seed extracts can improve vision and decrease eye stress.
• Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster)	Taking pine bark extracts can halt the progression of diabetic and other types of retinopathy and improve vision.