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age-associated changes in the eye
The eye undergoes change with aging.
Physiology:
1) arcus senilis
2) decreased pupil size (senile miosis)
3) growth (thickening) of lens
a) anterior chamber becomes more shallow
b) increased intraocular light scatter
c) diminished light reaching photoreceptors
d) increased opacity of lens & vitreous humor
4) decreased accomodation (presbyopia)
5) decreased visual acuity
-> largely decrease in dynamic acuity (moving target)
6) decreased depth perception
7) decreased color sensitivity
8) decreased contrast sensitivity
9) change in the axis of astigmatism
10) decreased corneal sensitivity
11) poor light/dark adaptation
12) retinal pigment epithelium changes
13) endothelial changes (atherosclerosis)
14) increased pressure in anterior chamber
15) decreased lacrimation
16) loss of periorbital fat results in sunken eyes & laxity of eyelids
Pathology:
- macular degeneration
- glaucoma
- cataracts
Related
eye
eye disease (ophthalmopathy)
vision
visual impairment
General
age-related physiological changes
References
- Essentials of Clinical Geriatrics, 4th ed, Kane RL et al (eds)
McGraw Hill, NY, 1999
- UCLA Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine & Board
Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 29-Oct 2, 2004
- The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, 3rdh ed, Merck & Co,
Rahway NJ, 2000
- Taffet GE, Physiology of Aging,
In: Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach, 4th ed,
Cassel CK et al (eds), Springer-Verlag, New York, 2003
- Geriatric Review Syllabus, 8th edition (GRS8)
Durso SC and Sullivan GN (eds)
American Geriatrics Society, 2013