Photo by: godluvscme
I don’t think I’ve ever started one of my blog posts with a joke, but I am going to make an exception with this one, because this story is so relevant to the subject.
Arthur is 95 years old. He plays golf every day. One day he comes home and says, “That’s it. I’m giving up golf. My eyesight has gotten so bad. I hit the ball and then I can’t see where it went.”
His wife sympathizes. She says, “Why don’t you take my brother with you, and give it one more try?”
“That’s no good,” sighs Arthur. “Your brother is 103. He can’t help.”
“He may be 103, but his eyesight is perfect,” she says.
So the next day Arthur heads to the course with his brother-in-law. He takes a mighty swing and squints down the fairway. He turns to the brother-in-law. “Did you see the ball?”
“Of course I did!” says the brother-in-law. “I have perfect eyesight.”
“Where did it go?” asks Arthur.
“I can’t remember.”
I like that story (which, by the way, I found here) because it features two common problems of aging, fading eyesight and failing memory, in the context of what is undoubtedly the most popular sport of senior citizens: golf.
I’m an ophthalmologist, not a brain specialist, so I won’t offer any suggestions for improving mental capacity. But there are a few things you can do to preserve and enhance your vision and enjoy golf as you approach or surpass Arthur’s longevity.
- Have regular eye exams – First, no matter how old you are or what sport your play, one of the most important things you can is to have regular eye examinations. Once you reach age 40, you should consider having annual exams, during which your doctor will look for signs of glaucoma and retinal damage. Of course, if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase your risk of eye disorders, such as diabetes, you’ll want to be checking in at least annually well before age 40. Here’s a suggested eye-exam schedule.
- Wear sunglasses – It’s not just your skin that’s at risk when you are outdoors, your eyes can also sustain damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays have been linked to the development of cataracts, implicated in the acceleration of macular degeneration and can cause photokeratitis, reversible sunburn of the cornea. Whatever color lens you like is fine – as long as it filters out 99 to 100 percent of UV rays (there are two types of UV rays, UVA and UV—your sunglasses should block out both types). And when it comes to sunglasses, bigger is probably better: You want “wraparounds” to offer as much protection as possible. Here’s more information about choosing the right sunglasses.
- Wear a hat – These days, just about every player on the PGA Tour wears a hat. That wasn’t always the case, but it’s a very positive development because the pros serve as role models for the rest of us. Ideally, every golfer should be wearing a wide-brimmed hat on the course. It’s a simple and effective way to keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes. Here’s a roundup of sun-protection tips from the CDC that you might find helpful.
- Don’t ignore warning signs. Many eye conditions sneak up on us; there are no obvious symptoms and changes can only be detected by an eye care professional. But others come with warning signs: signals like blurry, cloudy or “double vision.” If you experience those symptoms, have eye pain, find yourself bothered by glare more than usual—or anything else out of the ordinary—check in as soon as you can with your eye physician.
In addition to taking the steps above, you can help persevere your vision and continue to enjoy your favorite sport by not smoking, eating right (lots of fruits and vegetables), taking a multivitamin and otherwise taking care of your general health.
Fore!
