The Aging Eye (Paperback)

by Harvard Medical School (Author) "Without a doubt, sight is a complex and fascinating phenomenon..." (more)
Key Phrases: internal eye pressure, extracapsular surgery, dry eye syndrome, National Eye Institute, United States, American Academy of Ophthalmology (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
A lot can go wrong with your eyes as you get older. Some age-related eye conditions, such as presbyopia (loss of the ability to see close objects, which strikes people in middle age), are easily corrected. Others, such as macular degeneration, are much more serious and can be difficult to treat. Expanding and updating a Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, this book provides healthcare consumers with clear explanations of the various vision disorders that may occur later in life. As some diseases, such as glaucoma, may occur initially without symptoms, the text stresses the importance of regular visits to the eye doctor. Other preventative measures (proper diet, avoiding excessive sunlight, etc.) are also discussed. Because it is well researched, up-to-date, and prevention oriented, this comprehensive handbook stands out among other popular books on geriatric ophthalmology. Strongly recommended for all libraries. Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado Lib., Denver
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE READING MENUS?
DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN BLACK AND DARK BLUE?
DO YOU WORRY EXCESSIVELY ABOUT GLARE
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT?

One out of every five of us is affected by impaired vision by the time we turn sixty-five. To help you preserve your vision now -- and beyond -- The Aging Eye discusses three common eye disorders that pose the greatest threat to your vision: cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This valuable guide will help you determine whether you are at risk of developing these disorders, describes their symptoms, and discusses diagnosis and the latest treatments.

You will learn:

What to expect after cataract surgery

How glaucoma often progresses in the early stages without symptoms

Whether you may be suffering from dry or wet AMD

If laser surgery is right for you

How to deal with presbyopia, dry eye syndrome, floaters and flashes, and retinal detachment

Finally, practical suggestions will inform you what you can do now to preserve your vision, from fine-tuning your diet and stopping smoking to wearing sunglasses and protecting your eyes from the ravages of diabetes.

A valuable user-friendly guide for everyone over fifty, The Aging Eye will give you the knowledge you need to safeguard your sight.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743215036
• ISBN-13: 978-0743215039
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #74,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book on the subject, December 4, 2004

By	Gaetan Lion - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the third book I read published by the Harvard Medical School. They all have invariably been excellent. They rely on science, medical studies, and in depth analysis. They all do an excellent job of educating the public on the medical topics they cover. They differentiate between the marketing hype and established science.

The Aging Eye is an excellent reference book that outlines what happens to our eyes as they age since our mid thirties. This is a very short 200 page book with extremely large font. It definitely is made not to strain your eyesight. And, it reads easily in three leisurely hours.

In nine short chapters, it covers everything you need to know. The book explains in detail the three major diseases affecting us with the passage of time [glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataract]. It covers also many other common and less common eye ailments. It gives much information on prevention, treatment, surgery, post-surgery.

My favorite chapter was the last one on how to safeguard your eyesight. There it stresses the benefit of good living, including plenty of aerobic exercises to keep your cardiovascular system in top shape, and good nutrition based on an abundance of fresh produce (fruits and vegetables). It also stresses the necessity to protect one's eyes from sunlight including the dreaded UVAs and UVBs sunrays. Sunglasses need not cost a fortune, but they need to be excellent (very high % protection against UVs) and be worn virtually all the time when outdoors the minute the Sun is out.

My favorite pages are near the end where the book dispels many myths about eyesight. Many I must admit, I believed so far. But, it now makes sense to me that they were actual myths. One of them being that you can actually correct your eyesight with eye exercises. According to the book, you really can't. And, having tried the exercise routines to some degree, I really believe it now.

In any case, I strongly recommend this book. If you are interested in your general health and nutrition (extremely highly correlated to your eye health) I equally strongly recommend "Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy" by Walter Willett, and "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men's Health" by Harvey Simon.