Do you know the common eye diseases in different age groups?

Hua Xia, director of Tianjin University Aier Eye Hospital, said that eye diseases are closely related to age, genetics, lifestyle, and other physical diseases, and run through the entire life cycle. For prevention and treatment strategies for common eye diseases in different age groups, we hope that everyone will pay attention to eye health and protect the window to the soul.

0-18 years old: hyperopia, myopia, strabismus, amblyopia

According to data from the National Health Commission, the overall myopia rate among children and adolescents nationwide was 53.6% in 2022. Among kindergarten children, problems such as amblyopia caused by hyperopia and astigmatism are also common. If amblyopia is not effectively treated before the age of 6, the chance of treatment in the future will be greatly reduced. In addition, strabismus is also relatively common in children, which will affect vision and visual function development.

For other common eye diseases in children, early screening is very important. The three key time points for vision screening are just after birth, 3 months after birth, and 3 years old. In addition, it is recommended that children and adolescents have an eye examination every 3 to 6 months. Children with strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors should have regular checkups as recommended by the doctor.

20-50 years old: glaucoma, fundus disease

Glaucoma is an irreversible blinding eye disease that seriously damages the patient's visual function. Glaucoma is mainly primary glaucoma. Since most cases are chronic and hidden, or there are symptoms such as halo vision, headache, and sore eyes, 2/3 of glaucoma patients have already developed to the middle and late stages during the first examination. Glaucoma can be detected through routine eye screening. If it is detected early and treated actively, the patient's vision can be effectively protected.

It is recommended that people with a family history of glaucoma have an eye examination every year after the age of 40. High myopia, high hyperopia, high blood pressure, diabetes and other systemic diseases are all high-risk factors for glaucoma, so you need to be vigilant and follow the doctor's advice for regular check-ups.

Many people think that high myopia is not a disease, but people with high myopia are much more likely to suffer from retinal detachment, tearing, and macular hemorrhage than ordinary people. It is one of the common causes of blindness in adults. In addition to preventing myopia from getting worse, you should also check your fundus regularly.

Over 50 years old: Cataracts, fundus diseases

As people age, the function of the human lens deteriorates and they may be affected by another common blinding eye disease, cataracts. It is understood that about 60% of people over 60 years old suffer from cataracts, and the prevalence rate can be as high as 90% when they are 80 years old. This also means that as the aging of the population intensifies, the number of people with cataracts will increase significantly. It is recommended that middle-aged and elderly people go to the hospital for regular check-ups every year, and it is recommended that cataract patients receive timely treatment once their vision is affected.

Age-related macular degeneration is common in people over 50 years old, and the incidence rate increases with age. After the onset of the disease, patients may experience visual distortion, decreased central vision, blurred vision, dark spots in the middle of the eyes, etc. If the elderly do not control their blood sugar well, as blood sugar levels continue to rise, it can cause damage to retinal microvessels, causing symptoms such as floaters, decreased vision, and blank areas in the field of vision.