[Click! Health] Eyes Getting Cloudy with Age... Could Be an Eye Disease, Not Just Presbyopia

As people age, it is easy to assume that the natural blurring of vision and eye strain are simply symptoms of presbyopia, one of the aging phenomena. However, these symptoms can actually be early signs of eye diseases such as macular degeneration, macular hole, or cataracts. If the symptoms are mild or the degree of vision loss is not severe, they may be mistaken for presbyopia and neglected, which can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat these conditions early through regular ophthalmologic examinations.

[Photo by Kim Eye Hospital]

Macular degeneration, macular hole, and cataracts are eye diseases that mainly occur in the elderly and are often confused with presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when the lens hardens and loses elasticity due to aging, causing problems with accommodation and resulting in blurred near vision. Symptoms can be somewhat improved by wearing glasses or magnifiers. However, vision does not improve with glasses or magnifiers in cases of macular hole or macular degeneration. Unlike presbyopia, where vision in both eyes is usually similar, if one eye’s vision is significantly worse, macular degeneration or macular hole should be suspected. Cataracts cause the entire field of vision in both eyes to become cloudy, and unlike presbyopia, both near and distant vision are impaired.

Macular degeneration is a disease in which waste products accumulate in the macula, the central part of the retina’s neural tissue, gradually leading to vision loss. Aging is considered the main cause. It is divided into dry and wet types. Dry macular degeneration progresses slowly and its early symptoms are not obvious, making it easy to mistake for presbyopia. However, if dry macular degeneration progresses to macular atrophy or if abnormal new blood vessels form in wet macular degeneration, causing bleeding and retinal swelling, it can lead to permanent vision loss in severe cases. Therefore, early detection and treatment to slow disease progression are very important.

Macular hole is a condition where a hole forms in the macula, which is responsible for central vision, causing vision loss. If not treated promptly, it can lead to blindness, making early detection crucial. The exact cause is not clearly identified, but it is mainly associated with aging. It can occur when the vitreous separates from the retina during the aging process, damaging part of the macular tissue, or when the retina thins due to high myopia. Eye trauma can also be a cause. Since early symptoms of macular hole are not obvious and it can be confused with macular degeneration, a precise fundus examination is necessary for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Cataracts are an eye disease in which the lens becomes cloudy, causing the vision to appear hazy or blurred. They can also occur as complications of eye or systemic diseases such as trauma, uveitis, or diabetes, but the most common cause is aging. In the early stages, vision gradually deteriorates and can be mistaken for presbyopia, causing patients to miss the optimal treatment period. If left untreated, the treatment process becomes complicated, and once it progresses to a certain extent, surgery is necessary. Therefore, early detection to slow progression and planning treatment according to the patient’s condition are important.

Yu Young-joo, a retina specialist at Kim Eye Hospital, said, “Age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, macular hole, and cataracts are often mistaken for simple presbyopia, but missing the treatment window can lead to blindness and significantly affect quality of life. For middle-aged patients over their 40s, it is crucial to have regular eye examinations to detect these diseases early and receive treatment tailored to their individual condition. If any abnormalities in the eyes are felt, consulting a specialist immediately is recommended.”