How can you tell if you’re developing cataract? Did you know there are things you can do to delay or even prevent their formation? How can you talk with your doctor about which treatments would be best for you?

The eye specialists at Harvard Medical School answer these and many more questions in their new interactive Online Course; focusing on a range of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts.

But cataracts are just one of the age-related eye conditions that could put your eyesight at risk. Peripheral vision-robbing glaucoma…sight-blocking macular degeneration…and retina-damaging diabetic retinopathy pose an even greater threat to your eyes.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help address these and other conditions to keep your eyes healthy and strong as you grow older. And that’s just some of the information you’ll learn in Harvard Health Publishing interactive online course Cataracts and Other Conditions of the Aging Eye.

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll discover in this easy-to-use online course...

CATARACTS:

• How to delay or prevent cataract formation — including 3 nutritional approaches that may help
• 13 “yes or no” questions to consider before you say “yes” to cataract surgery
• 3 types of cataract surgery — how each works and risk factors involved
• Pros and cons of 10 types of replacement lenses
• What to expect during and after surgery

GLAUCOMA:

• 4 most common of forms of glaucoma and how they are diagnosed
• What may be an early sign of glaucoma (though symptoms usually occur later in the disease)
• 8 glaucoma medications and their possible side effects
• Surgical approaches — from laser and traditional strategies to micro-invasive surgery

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD):

• The critical difference between “wet” and “dry” AMD
• AMD causes and risk factors
• The nutritional formula that can help preserve vision in many people
• AMD symptoms and how doctors diagnose the disease
• Recently approved medications that slow the progression of dry AMD

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY:

• How high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina
• How to spot the signs and symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
• Three types of treatments and how they work

COMMON AGE-RELATED EYE ISSUES:

• Struggling to see closeup? In addition to eyeglasses, see how drops or surgery can help
• Eyelid problems? Discover treatment options for inflammation, drooping upper or lower eyelids
• Dry eye syndrome? Learn about new approaches, including nasal sprays, pills, and drug-free options
• Floaters? Find out what they are and when to consult an ophthalmologist
• And more — including double vision, pink eye, flashes, and retinal tear

Tap into Harvard’s unparalleled expertise about how you can help protect your eyesight!