‘Your’ eyes at 45
Australians now have access to a new online website that offers everyone access to all the information they need as their vision changes with age. MyEyes@45 is a magazine style website that presents vision related information people need in a user friendly way.
Dr Michael Lawless in the operating room.
Age related vision loss affects everyone – royalty, world leaders and even rock stars. Yet few people understand exactly what is happening.
With a large percentage of the ‘baby boomers’ now reaching their sixties, there is a growing need to ensure people understand the options so they can manage their vision problems as they age.
The new online resource centre, MyEyes@45, offers everyone access to all of the information that they need as their vision changes with age. It allows people to talk with their optometrist and/or ophthalmologist with an understanding of what is happening with their eyes and to make an informed choice.
The name MyEyes@45 draws from the fact that most people will start to notice difficulty with reading somewhere around the age of 45. The truth is, everyone is different, but most people with previously normal vision will find that reading a menu or a mobile phone becomes increasingly difficult at about 45 to 50 years of age.
This isn’t a disease or a disorder – it’s just a natural part of ageing. The problem is, unlike grey hair and wrinkles, it significantly affects everyday activities, with simple tasks such as looking at the price of an item in the supermarket becoming impossible.
For a little while, holding the item they’re reading a bit further away can help. But at some point, their arms can’t get any longer and people struggle to know what to do next.
That’s why a group of ophthalmologists decided to develop a resource that is easily accessible to everyone.
Dr Michael Lawless, of Vision Eye Institute in Chatswood, explains while those in his profession know what’s happening, the general public often doesn’t.
“Beyond reading glasses, there are a number of surgical options that can also reduce or even eliminate the need for reading glasses. It’s not one size fits all. What is right for one patient may not necessarily be right for another,” Dr Lawless says.
The MyEyes@45 website is designed in an easy to read form and encompasses far more than just information on age related vision changes – the ‘lifestyle magazine’ format will be updated regularly, so people have access to a wide range of stories, tips, recipes, photos and, of course, some fun.
“We think it breaks new ground – My Eyes at 45 is a magazine-style website that presents the information people need in a user-friendly way, as well as outlining what vision solutions are available to them,” Dr Lawless says.
“Once a patient understands all of their options, they can make an informed choice – even if they decide to do nothing, they feel empowered rather than confused.
“Personally, I’ve had a surgical procedure that allows me to see near items without the use of glasses. It’s worked well for me, and it’s worked well for a number of my patients as well.”
Read more about the new MyEyes@45 initiative.
