Geez, I'm Getting Older

I kept looking around, over my shoulder and back to the corner. Would a mugger come stumbling around it and catch me? I struggled with the lock in one hand and my cell phone in the other. I had to turn four digits on the lock and then push it in to get it open. Whew, it finally unlocked and in I went.

You see, I'm in Baltimore for a few months writing out of Stansberry's office – an 1800s mansion as beautiful as they get – and I was in the neighborhood dining after dark. I didn't realize the wooden outer front door could lock, and my key only worked the inside door.

How do I get through a metal gate with a four-tumbler lock on it? The problem is, my eyes don't work like a 20-year-old's. I need more light than a youngster because I can't quite read the small numbers on the lock. At that point, I am nervous. Without light, I couldn't see the numbers at all and even with the dim light of my cell it took some time. I finally made it.

As we age, several changes take place within the eye. One of the changes occurs in the lens – a clear, living tissue that works like the lens in a camera. Our eyes' lenses are thicker in the middle, like a magnifying glass. This allows us to see up close at times. But better than a magnifying glass, our lenses can actually change thickness. This allows us to focus on objects both near and at a distance without trying. The process is called "accommodation."

However, as the lens ages, it becomes harder, which makes it harder to focus. The decreased flexibility is caused by both radiation from the sun and byproducts of normal metabolism within the eye. When this happens, off we go to the eye doctor for a prescription... We usually just need "cheaters." You can easily find these over-the-counter magnifying glasses at a local chain store. The glasses are the bane of all 40-year-olds... They're a clear sign of the aging process. In fact, if you want to have fun, go at night to a Wal-Mart and watch the area near the reading glasses as women come by and try to buy them secretly – it's truly hilarious. If you do go, you might even find me trying on a few pairs surreptitiously.

Why is all this important? For some, these cheaters are the first reminder of our mortality. Time stands still for no one. And who wants to start wearing glasses for something that you've done just fine most of your life? There are, however, a few things you can do to maintain the quality of your vision as long as possible.

The first tip is important not only for eye health, but for overall health in general. And it's very simple. Get enough sleep every night. When your eyes are closed, their surfaces are bathed in natural tears. These tears consist of multiple fats and salts, which restore the surface of the eye. Also, blood flows more easily to your eyes when you lie down. This allows nutrients to "recharge" the eyes. It also allows for removal of wastes. If you've ever pulled an all-nighter, you know how poor your vision is the next day. Red eyes, itchy eyes... Try getting some sleep.

Secondly, avoid excessive sun and wind on your eyes. When the eye is overexposed to air, sun, and dust, it starts to grow strange and unusual tissue on the inside and outside edges of the whites of your eyes. These growths are called Pterygium (pronounced tur-IDGE-e-um), my favorite medical word. These actually grow right into the center of your vision. The surgery to remove these things is not easy... so remember to protect your eyes outdoors.

My third tip is to consume fruits and vitamin supplements meant for the eyes. Tremendous health benefits come from eating berries – raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Current science shows berries have special benefits for the eye because of unique micronutrients that make them high in antioxidants. Interestingly, an extraordinary berry called the bilberry is particularly valuable for eye health. Used by WWII pilots for improving night vision, it is native to the western Pacific. Health food stores now carry supplements made from this berry.

My final tip relates to the third and stems from research on a disease the elderly dread. It has an ominous sounding name – Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). This condition, which has genetic roots, occurs when scar tissue develops in the back of the eye, reducing vision. A 2001 study showed taking a combination of copper, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E can slow down this aging process. New clinical trials are combining those original nutrients with antioxidants, vegetable micronutrients (including Lutein and Zeaxanthin), and fish oils to try to further slow ARMD.

Evidence is mounting that other vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants also play a major role in maintaining eye health. Some of these chemicals listed below are in everyday foods.

When it comes to my eyes... What do I do?

Here's to our health,

David Eifrig Jr., M.D., M.B.A.