Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Most baby boomers are so blinded by concerns like heart disease and cancer that they fail to see the potential for eye problems.

Their lack of focus could lead to serious consequences such as vision loss and blindness, and has prompted the American Academy of Ophthalmology to introduce new eye screening recommendations once adults hit 40.

The incidence of age-related eye diseases including cataracts and macular degeneration is expected to increase to 43 million by  2020 from 28 million today, affecting many boomers as they age, according to a survey of 1,200 Americans conducted for the academy. Adults aged 65 and over, as well as individuals with a family history of eye disease, are considered most at risk.

The trouble is, most adults turn a blind eye when it comes to annual eye exams, and are unaware of the factors that make them susceptible to vision problems. Less than a quarter of Americans said they are very concerned about losing their vision, while a majority feel weight gain or joint and back pain are of greater concern. Meanwhile, one in three adults over 65 don't have their annual eye exam, which is fully covered by Medicare.

Vision problems are "not top of mind because (individuals) think the chance is remote," said Marguerite McDonald, a Lindbergh, NY, ophthalmologist.

Out of Focus
About 85 percent of all respondents were not able to identify half or more of the risk factors for five primary age-related diseases. This includes: macular degeneration, or decline in vision needed for reading, driving and seeing fine detail; cataracts, a gradual clouding of the clear lens in the eye; diabetic retinopathy; a condition in which high blood-sugar levels from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina; glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve which carries images to the brain; and dry eyes.

"The stark reality is that millions of people will suffer significant vision loss and blindness because they don't know the risks," said Dr. H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., executive vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Several changes occur in the eyes as individuals age. This includes the hardening of the lens, which could lead to cataracts. Eyes also become drier, contributing to blurry vision and in rare cases, corneal blindness, Dr. McDonald said.

The five eye diseases tend to affect men and women equally, with the exception of the higher incidence of dry eyes in menopausal woman, according to Dr. McDonald. 

But overall, by the age of 60, the average person has lost 60 percent of his or her tear lake, resulting in decreased tear production, she said. By age 70, 70 percent of the tear lake is lost, and so on. To that end, Restasis has become the fastest-growing eye care drug in the U.S. to combat dry eyes.

New Recommendations
To build awareness about eye diseases, the academy has issued a new eye disease screening recommendation for aging adults. It also is launching an initiative called EyeSmart to educate Americans about vision risks.

The academy is recommending that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40, which generally is the stage at which early signs of disease and changes in vision occur. For individuals at any age with symptoms of eye disease, or those who are at risk because of their age or family history, the academy recommends they see their ophthalmologist to determine how frequently their eyes should be examined.

The thinking is that much like regular mammograms, routine eye disease screening will help identify diseases at an early stage when treatments can make a difference, Dr. McDonald said.

It's important to "draw a line in the sand and say, 'At this age, get it done,'" she said.

EyeSmart will focus on reaching women over 40 initially since they are more likely to serve as caregivers for their own families and increasingly their aging parents. EyeSmart also aims to reach people who don't traditionally consider themselves vulnerable, such as individuals who do not wear glasses or contacts.

"The fact is that everyone is at risk," Dr. Hoskins said. "More than half of all Americans will have some form of eye disease as they get older."