Snowbird Alert source: Newscanada.com Three things that can affect vision as you age We often think of vision loss as a byproduct of aging, but that thinking can cause us to miss a host of serious conditions. That’s why it’s important to understand vision loss not as an inevitable part of getting older, but as a possible sign of one of several specific health issues. Here are some examples: 1. Dry eyes. Did you know that many of us produce fewer tears as we age? It’s not just an issue for enjoying a good cry – tears help keep our eyes from drying out. But as tear production falls off, our eyes can become red, dry and painful. Dry eyes can affect nighttime driving, as well as reading. Fortunately, there are treatment options available, from moisturizing eye drops to vitamin supplements and special tear duct plugs. If you find yourself blinking painfully often, or that your tears don’t seem to help when they do come, reach out to your eye-care provider. 2. Glaucoma. This includes several conditions that all damage the optic nerve – the pathway between your eyes and brain – causing gradual vision loss over years. It’s sometimes called “the silent thief” because it progresses so slowly that sufferers often don’t notice their vision loss until it has progressed significantly. Many glaucoma patients are seniors, and this is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people older than 60. The key to detecting it is regular eye exams that include a measurement of pressure in the eyeball. The condition is manageable, but requires lifelong monitoring and treatment. 3. Geographic atrophy (GA). A type of advanced dry macular degeneration, GA affects an estimated five million people worldwide. It’s a condition most often seen in seniors where the macula (the central part of the retina) starts to die off cell by cell. Vision loss begins in the middle of a person’s field of vision, and progresses to make everyday tasks, and even recognizing faces, difficult. GA causes irreversible damage and loss of independence, but it is detectable. Talk to your eye-care professional about getting checked regularly, as well as any factors that might put you at higher risk. Seven lifehacks to ward off online scammers As convenient as the digital world is, when we do our banking, shopping and other activities online, we open ourselves up to the risk of crooks trying to steal our information or money. Here are seven ways you can protect yourself online. 1. Set up your devices so that they require a password or a biometric tool such as your fingerprint or face to open them. 2. Create unique passwords or passphrases for every account. That way, your other accounts won’t be at risk if one is hacked. Each password should be at least 12 characters long with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. A passphrase is a minimum of 15 characters with a mix of four or more words strung together that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess. 3. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. This added layer of security ensures that it’s really you trying to log on. 4. Clear your browser’s cache and history before and after you log onto a secure site, such as your bank or a retailer’s site, where you’ve entered personal or banking information. 5. Install all software updates and patches as soon as they’re available. Note that some updates can take a significant amount of time to install, so you can set them up to initiate late at night or early in the morning when you’re less likely to need access to the device. Enable automatic updates wherever available. 6. When logging onto secure websites, make sure that the URL is accurately spelled out, has HTTPS at the beginning (the S stands for secure) and has a locked padlock symbol beside it. 7. Regularly review your banking and credit card statements for unusual charges. If you do see something suspicious, contact your bank immediately. Find more cyber safety tips at getcybersafe.ca. Learn more at livingwithga.ca. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
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