Our eyes, seemingly fragile, are one of the most resilient organs in our body. In fact, in the absence of disease or trauma, it is possible to maintain good vision after the age of 90, allowing us to read, drive, travel independently or enjoy a beautiful landscape. However, it is important to take special care to reach this age with good eye health.

There are many changes that inevitably occur throughout life and which are associated with the ageing process. Some start early, such as presbyopia or "tired eyes". After the age of 40, it's normal to have difficulty focusing on close objects. Those who have always seen well up until then without needing glasses begin to notice that they progressively need more light and then that "the arm is short". They have to move objects further away to see them in more detail. This is a normal condition and can be easily corrected, for example with reading glasses.

But it is also after the age of 40 that some eye diseases become more prevalent and if they are not prevented, diagnosed and treated in time, they can prevent us from reaching 90 with good vision. It's therefore unwise to simply correct presbyopia without an assessment by an ophthalmologist.

Glaucoma is one of them. It goes unnoticed until very advanced stages of the disease. It is also called "the silent thief of sight". It can lead to irreversible visual field loss and ultimately blindness. It is important to have regular examinations for early detection and then strictly follow the treatment prescribed by the eye doctor.

Cataracts, a progressive opacification of the lens, are also associated with ageing. When it becomes responsible for a significant incapacity for daily activities, surgical treatment is indicated, which allows excellent recovery of vision in the absence of other diseases.

Age-related macular degeneration usually appears after the age of 50 and is more frequent and potentially more serious with each passing decade. It can lead to an irreversible loss of central vision, preventing reading, driving or, for example, seeing a person's face. Prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment by an ophthalmologist are essential to avoid significant vision loss and reading blindness.

But there are also diseases in our body that can affect our eyes in very serious ways. They are also more common with age. Diabetes is perhaps the most important. It can lead to diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in Portugal in working age. We need to prevent diabetes, diagnose it early and treat it properly in order to avoid eye complications. Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (made during a visit to the ophthalmologist or through screening by the family doctor) and appropriate treatment means that good vision can be preserved in more than 90% of patients. Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are also associated with ocular vascular occlusions with severe, often irreversible vision loss. When we treat them, we are not only preventing myocardial infarction or stroke, but we are also preventing a potential ocular vascular accident.

Healthy ageing with good vision after the age of 90 therefore depends on a set of attitudes and behaviors that we should adopt throughout our lives, which include: having regular eye examinations as recommended by the eye doctor; eating foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins; not smoking; keeping blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol under control; maintaining an active lifestyle to promote blood circulation and general health; early diagnosis and appropriate and timely treatment of diseases that may arise throughout life. By adopting these precautions and being aware of the changes and eye diseases that arise with age, it is possible to "age healthily" by preserving eye health and maintaining good vision after the age of 90.