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Show: May 13, 2012:
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Aging Eyes and Disease
Hosts: Barbara Lewis, David Crabb, MD
Interview: Ryan Prall, M.D., ophthalmologist at the Glick Eye Institute at the IU School of Medicine
Can aging eyes lead to insomnia and other diseases? Certain conditions associated with aging, like memory loss and slower reaction time, may be the result of the aging eye. Ryan Prall, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the Glick Eye Institute at the IU School of Medicine, discusses new research that suggests there’s a link between aging eyes and a variety of illnesses, including insomnia, heart disease and cancer. The most current theory describing this phenomenon is that the gradual yellowing of the eye’s lens and narrowing of the pupil, which occurs naturally with age, can disturb the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to health problems.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about what aging eyes may have to do with health in older adults here
