Presbyopia

If you're like McGuigan and are already holding reading material at arm's length to read it, you might have prebyopia, a condition that occurs when the lenses lose flexibility and, as a result, make it difficult to focus on close objects.

"It's not correctable," Greenbaum said. "The boomers have to deal with it one way or another. Glasses, including bifocals and trifocals, and surgery can help."

Bifocal or trifocal glasses have two or three lenses where one lens adjusts for close and the other for distance. Trifocals include a middle section to correct for midrange distance. When wearing trifocals, the person looks through the top to see far distance, through the middle to see closer and through the bottom to see even closer, for example a book.

While some people have trouble adjusting to these types of glasses, Greenbaum said several factors can improve their effectiveness.

"There are many variables, including the quality of the lens, fit of the frame, position of the lens and the instructions you get that can effect success," Greenbaum said, "A lens with poor optics, in ... a frame that hasn't been adjusted properly and with no instructions as to how the lenses are used is a recipe for failure, even with the most accurate prescription. "

Bifocal contacts are also available, although they don't work for everyone.

"For bifocal contact lenses, most modern lenses work by having distance and reading images seen simultaneously and the brain has to figure out which image is important at that moment. Some people just can't adapt," Greenbaum said.

"Since it is such a different way of seeing, it's important to take enough time to adapt, usually at least two weeks, before you know if bifocal lenses will work for you. Sometimes small changes in power or a different lens design makes a huge difference, so work with someone who is patient and experienced with these lenses," he added.

According to the American Optometric Association, another treatment for presbyopia is monovision, in which patients wear a contact lens for near vision on one eye and, if needed, a lens for distance vision on the other eye.

While some might think Lasik surgery could bypass the need for glasses, it doesn't work for older patients.

"Lasik surgery does not address presbyopia," Greenbaum said. "Presbyopia corrective implants, where the natural lens is removed, can be done, but I tell my patients that even though the chances are they'll be quite happy, they are taking a chance. Realistically there is no going back."

He said the biggest risk associated with the surgery is blurry vision, double vision or eyestrain.

"Because it's the result of a surgery, that may or may not be better than your vision before the operation, and you can't undo it. However, as this option develops, it's getting better and more reliable all the time," Greenbaum said.

Cataracts

If your eyes suddenly seem a bit foggy or you become sensitive to light, you might have the start of cataracts, a cloudy vision. According to the Mayo Clinic, most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on, but eventually they interfere with your vision.

"There are nutrition factors, especially diabetes, and exposure to the sun that can put you at a greater risk," said Dr. Brian Powell of Southern Dutchess Eyecare. "If someone's blood sugar is out of control, they can get cataracts earlier in life."

Other risk factors include excessive exposure to sunlight, exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays, cancer radiation therapy), family history, high blood pressure, obesity, previous eye injury, inflammation or surgery, prolonged use of corticosteroid medications or smoking.

"Eventually, the cloudiness gets to be too much and you have to take out the old lens and bring a new one in," Powell said. The only treatment is cataract surgery, where the clouded lens is replaced with a plastic lens implant.

Macular degeneration

According to a 2005 study done by the National Eye Institute, the prevalence of eye disease is expected to increase with the aging population. For example, it's estimated that as many as 11 million people in the United States have some form of age-related macular degeneration, a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. By 2050, this figure will double to nearly 22 million.

Age-related macular degeneration mostly affects those older than 60, according to the American Health Assistance Foundation, and causes deterioration of the macula, the central area of the retina where light sensitive cells send visual signals to the brain. As a result, there's loss of color vision, dim or dark spots and distortion of clarity. Risk factors include age, family history, being white and female, smoking cigarettes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

"A diet low in antioxidants and high in fats and cholesterol also increases your risk," said Dr. Ira Price of Eye Appeal in LaGrangeville, who is also the director of clinical services at the Helen Keller Services for the Blind in Woodhaven, Queens. "However, once you have it, it will progress to severe vision loss."

There are two types of age- related macular degeneration (AMD), dry and wet.

"Dry AMD is 90 percent of the cases," Price said. "It wears out the vision chemicals and cells necessary to see clearly. Wet AMD results from the body trying to improve circulation to the macula, and this new circulation creates blood leaks."

Price said there is no current treatment for dry AMD, but "nutritional supplementation as a therapy for dry AMD has been studied and there is a propensity of stabilizing it." He said the current treatment for wet is an injection of a chemotherapy drug, ranibizumab, that's been adapted for use in the eye.

Retinal detachment

Retinal tears are also common age-related eye issues.

"What happens as the eye gets older is that the fluid in the eye shrinks and pulls away from the retina," Powell said. "Suddenly, you might see a shadow or a big floater. If you see big flashes of light, it's an eye emergency and you're at risk for detachment."

Powell said a dilated eye exam would be done to make sure any flashes of light are not caused by something else. If there is a tear, a surgeon can repair it with a laser.

Certain pre-existing health issues, such as diabetes, can also affect your vision and cause retina detachment.

"Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina," Price said. "Bleeding from these blood vessels can cause retinal detachments and total blindness, so eye exams are required on an annual basis, if not more frequently, for those with diabetes."

Glaucoma

Audrey Willis has worn glasses since kindergarten and is extremely nearsighted. She jokes about needing glasses to find her glasses, but is serious about her fear of glaucoma and vision loss.

"I fear going blind," the 48-year-old town of Poughkeepsie resident said. "Even as a child, I thought if I had to lose a sense I would like to lose my taste. I can't imagine not being able to see things having once seen."

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases where there is damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision loss. Like Willis, people with a family history of glaucoma, African-Americans and older adults are at a higher risk for developing the disease.

"There are no symptoms and no vitamins or pills we are recommending at this point to prevent glaucoma," Powell said. "The only way to pick it up is through an eye exam if you're noticing a loss of vision. If you have family issues with it, you're at a much greater risk."

Prevention

To prevent many conditions from occurring or worsening, it's ket to take good care of your eyes and your body. Diet does affect your vision. Price suggests adding fish oils, such as omega, to your diet, only if macular damage hasn't occurred. Greenbaum said fish oil also works to curb dry eye .

And yes, eating carrots really works.

"There is a certain family of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, C, E, selenium, copper and zinc and lutein, which particularly for macular degeneration, are certainly helpful," Greenbaum said. "They also prevent cataracts, so eat a diet rich in those nutrients, such as carrots, green leafy vegetables, spinach, kale, collards and broccoli."

You should also see your optometrist or ophthalmologist every year for a checkup.