Ophthalmology and the Ageing Society [electronic resource] / edited by Hendrik P.N. Scholl, Robert W. Massof, Sheila West.

Ophthalmic Disease of the Ageing Society. Epidemiology of Eye Diseases in Older Populations: Blindness and Visual Impairment: Global Perspective -- Blindness and visual impairment: High income countries. Genetics, Gene-Environment Interactions and Prophylaxis: Cataract, Age-related Macular Degeneration and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: Risk Factors -- Age-related Macular Degeneration and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma: Genetics and Gene-Environment Interaction -- Preventive Therapies for Age Related Macular Degeneration: Current Guidelines. Current Treatment of the Major Eye Diseases of the Elderly: Innovations in Cataract surgery -- Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Rationale for Current Treatment Guidelines -- Dry Eye Syndrome in the elderly: challenges and treatment options. The Impact of Visual Disability on Daily Life in Older Populations:  Cataract and diabetic retinopathy: Impact on quality of life -- Glaucoma and Quality of Life -- Impact of early and late age-related macular degeneration on quality of life -- Vision and Driving Performance in Elderly -- Depressive and Cognitive Disorders in Patients with AMD -- Visual Disability in the Elderly: Implications for Visual Rehabilitation.

The ageing of the world’s population is one of the major achievements of modern society. By 2050, an estimated 2 billion people will be aged 60 years or over. However, ageing poses major challenges and this is especially true for the field of ophthalmology, given that the major eye diseases – age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract – predominantly affect the elderly.   The challenges facing ophthalmology in an ageing society have not previously been addressed in a comprehensive way, although there are common denominators of the various eye diseases that affect the elderly. This book provides such a comprehensive overview encompassing epidemiology, risk factors, current treatment and prophylaxis, disability, co-morbidity, and the impact on quality of life.   World leaders in their respective fields provide state-of-the-art knowledge on the geriatric aspects of ophthalmology that will help to improve the management of this growing patient population.