Reducing the Effects of the Aging Eye: Report

A recent report looks at troubles with aging tissues of the eye, and how scientists are working to limit the issues due to visual impairment.

"With an aging world population and startling increases in the prevalence of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, we feel that this issue is both important and timely, with chapters highlighting problems in and possible solutions to age-related diseases that affect all the major tissues of the eye," said Gerald Chader, PhD, FARVO, chief scientific officer at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California and medical director of the Ocular Research Symposia Foundation (ORSF), via a press release. 

Currently, it's estimated that 65 percent of those with visual impairments and 82 percent of those who are blind are over the age of 50.

Based on a workshop sponsored by ORSF from June 14 to 16, 2013, researchers discussed new studies on genetics, biology, biochemistry, neurochemistry and the impact of nutrition and the environment on function in the older eye, specifically addressing the issues of vision loss in older adults. 

The report showed that by 2015, over 10 million Americans will be blind or have significant visual impairment, all of which pose staggering costs on healthcare for society. For instance, direct medical costs of retinal disorders hit close to $8.7 million in 2013 alone. For other treatable eye issues, including refractive errors and cataracts, annual costs ranged from $10.7 to $16.1 million

Researchers concluded that it's important to identify via basic research and clinical trials both sight-saving and restorative measures that could prevent such health problems in the future.

He concludes by stating that "ORSF hopes to illuminate the way to the best, practicable and most cost-efficient means of combating blinding eye diseases."

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