Vision and Hearing
Some of the visual changes associated with aging begin to unfold during middle age. One should have annual eye exam to check for pressure buildup in the fluid of the eye , or glaucoma, which must be treated to prevent blindness. Blurred detail vision for most is not a problem until sometime in the seventies or eighties, and this can be a sign of a cataract, or hardening of the lens of the eye so that it cannot accommodate as efficiently. Fortunately, cataract surgery has become routine. The " oldest old " are also more prone to retinal detachment, a serious condition in which the retinal layer at the back of the eyeball begins to "peel away." If the condition is caught early enough, laser surgery might be able to reattach the retina. A person with other health complications might find vision difficulties appearing as well.
Hearing loss is a hazard i some occupations, such as working near engines or motors or working with sound equipment for rock bands. Some hearing loss appears to have a genetic component. Hearing loss occurs in about 25 percent of people aged 65 to 75 years old and in 50 percent of those over age 75. Severe hearing loss or loss or vision diminishes the person's quality of life, making the person more dependent on others to meet even basic needs. Loss of vision or hearing can even lead to one of the most severe things that can happen to an older person-losing his or her driver's license and the freedom of choice and mobility that it allows.