Our tissues and organs age. The eye, unfortunately, is no exception to this harsh reality. Today it is important to protect your eyes against ultraviolet rays, blue light and for some, infrared. Eye aging is a subject that concerns all individuals; it is necessary to have ophthalmic and optometric check-ups once a year.
Aging of the lens
The lens is simply the lens located inside the eye, just behind the iris (see diagram). It deforms due to the pressure of the ciliary muscle. This deformation allows for clear vision, which is accommodation. The lens becomes less and less flexible with age, and this leads to the symptom of "arms that are too short," or presbyopia.
After presbyopia, it is the transparency of the lens that is affected; the lens becomes opaque, especially with exposure to sun and blue light: this is cataracts.
Aging of the retina
The retina and its central part, the macula, allow us to see details; it is what enables individuals to read and recognize shapes and faces. Its aging can be very disabling; this is called age-related macular degeneration: AMD.
Aging of the optic nerve
The optic nerve is simply the "messenger," the one that will transmit visual information from the eye directly to the brain. With age, there is a decrease in the number of nerve fibers from the retinal ganglion cells. This decrease in optic nerve fibers is accelerated in cases of chronic glaucoma, a disease whose incidence increases with age.
Aging of the lacrimal glands
The eye is constantly moistened by tears secreted by the lacrimal glands. The secretion of these tears decreases with age, which can lead to dry eye.
Aging of the tear ducts
Tears are processed by the tear ducts all the way to the nasal cavities. With age, these ducts can narrow and/or become blocked, leading to intermittent or permanent tearing in individuals. If this discomfort is too significant, surgery may be an option.
Aging of the vitreous humor
The vitreous humor is a transparent and homogeneous gel inside the eye. With age, certain parts liquefy, condense... This leads to the appearance of "floaters" or "flashes of light."
