Age-related eye diseases
1. What are age-related eye diseases?
The most common are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract. Aging gradually destroys sharp and central vision.
2. What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is a disturbance in the balance between the production of free radicals(harmful substances)and antioxidant defenses resulting in tissue damage. The existing antioxidants present in the body are insufficient to neutralize increased free radicals.
3. What is the connection between aging and oxidative stress?
There are many theories to explain the process of aging. One of the theories is ‘the oxidative stress theory of aging, which holds that an increase in reactive oxygen species(ROS) accompanies aging, leading to functional alterations in normal eye conditions.
4. What are the causes of ocular oxidative stress?
Prolonged exposure to solar radiation, environmental chemicals, physical abrasion, infection and inflammation, modified lifestyle(junk food, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle), poor nutrition and genetics are some of the major causes of ocular oxidative stress.
5. What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are those substances that prevent or stop tissue damage caused by free radicals. it neutralizes the effect of oxidative stress.
6. What are the common eye disorders associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels?
Increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant level lead to aging of the eyes. This aging leads to various ocular disorders like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract.
7. What happens in diabetic retinopathy?
It occurs when damage to the retina is due to diabetes. In the first stage which is called non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, there are no symptoms. The signs are not visible to the eye and patients will have 20/20 vision.
In the second stage, abnormal new blood vessels form at the back of the eye as a part of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These can burst, bleed and blur the vision because these new blood vessels are fragile.
Dr. Ramesh Murthy is one of the best eye specialists in Pune and India and is available at Axis Eye Clinic which is considered among the best eye clinics in Pune.
