Steady progress in medicine has led to an ongoing reduction in many age-related conditions over the past few decades. Such as this, for example: "Today's senior citizens are reporting fewer visual impairment problems than their counterparts from a generation ago, according to a new [study]. Improved techniques for cataract surgery and a reduction in the prevalence of macular degeneration may be the driving forces behind this change, the researchers said. ... From 1984 until 2010, the decrease in visual impairment in those 65 and older was highly statistically significant. There was little change in visual impairments in adults under the age of 65. ... The [ study] shows that in 1984, 23 percent of elderly adults had difficulty reading or seeing newspaper print because of poor eyesight. By 2010, there was an age-adjusted 58 percent decrease in this kind of visual impairment, with only 9.7 percent of elderly reporting the problem. There was also a substantial decline in eyesight problems that limited elderly Americans from taking part in daily activities, such as bathing, dressing or getting around inside or outside of the home ... there are three likely reasons for the decline: (a) Improved techniques and outcomes for cataract surgery. (b) Less smoking, resulting in a drop in the prevalence of macular degeneration. (c) Treatments for diabetic eye diseases are more readily available and improved, despite the fact that the prevalence of diabetes has increased "

Link: http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/06/seniors-eyesight.html

Source:
http://www.longevitymeme.org/newsletter/latest_rss_feed.cfm