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HOW TO PREVENT IT: In five years or less, roughly two percent of type 2 diabetes patients will develop PDR. And the risk increases with time. Even if you take metformin, insulin or weight

loss drugs commonly prescribed to diabetics such as Ozempic, making healthy changes to stabilize your blood sugar and lose weight is essential for preventing PDR from occurring or

progressing. Be mindful of how much sugar you eat, get enough sleep, keep your stress levels under control, get moving every day and avoid drugs and alcohol.  HOW TO TREAT IT: Your doctor

may prescribe medications like Avastin and Eylea, which may slow or even improve PDR-induced vision loss. If you have advanced PDR, your doctor may use laser surgery to seal the tiny,

leaking blood vessels.  Another surgical option is to replace the clear, viscous gel behind the lens and in front of the retina with another solution, but it comes with risks such as retinal

detachment, developing cataracts, lens damage, problems with eye movement and infection.  IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH PERIPHERAL VISION LOSS?  Many states let low-vision drivers take the

roads. To see if you meet the minimum vision requirements to drive, visit your state’s DMV website.  However, it’s not uncommon for even mild peripheral vision loss to make older drivers too

nervous to take the wheel. Peripheral vision loss can also affect your ability to drive at night, because the peripheral area of the retina contains photoreceptor cells called rods that are

responsible for night vision.  Brushing up on your driving skills is one solution.  “If you’re doubting your ability to drive, you should take a few lessons at driving school,” Sabel says.

“But don’t tell the driving instructor that you have peripheral vision loss. Instead, ask them to evaluate if you can still safely drive. You might say, ‘I’m getting older, and I’m unsure if

I should still drive. Can I take a few lessons and get your insights?’ ” STROKE WHAT IT IS: Reduced blood flow to the brain (ischemic) or uncontrolled bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage)

that leads to a life-threatening emergency. More than 795,000 U.S. Americans suffer from stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And peripheral vision loss is a

common complication: A study published in_ PloS One__ _that examined more than 1,000 stroke patients found that 73 percent of survivors experienced impaired vision. How to prevent it: Kick

your vices – and prioritize your mental health. For one, research shows that any form of smoking can increase the chances of ischemic stroke, and so does ongoing mental stress.  HOW TO TREAT

IT: In the event of a stroke, it’s important to act quickly and call 911. If an ischemic stroke patient is seen within three hours of onset, doctors can use tissue plasminogen activator

(tPA) to break down the blood clot to enhance blood flow or other medical procedures to open a blockage and restore blood flow. Hemorrhagic stroke may require aneurysm clipping or coil

embolization to stop the bleeding, plus high blood pressure medications to help lower your blood pressure that may be contributing to or causing the bleeding.  Video: Signs of Retinal

Detachment RETINAL DETACHMENT WHAT IT IS: The thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that helps us convert light into images (the retina) detaches or pulls away from its normal position

and disconnects from blood vessels that nourish the eyes. This can be a gradual process (with ageing) or more sudden, due to trauma. Many patients report a sudden increase in floaters,

flashes of light and abrupt or gradual peripheral vision loss. If left untreated, retinal detachment will result in partial or total blindness.  HOW TO PREVENT IT: Age-related changes to

the vitreous gel increase the likelihood of retinal detachment, as does severe nearsightedness and head and eye injury. You can lower your risk by managing all forms of diabetic retinopathy

and other eye diseases, such as retinal thinning. It’s also important to take preventative measures and address comorbidities, such as diabetes. HOW TO TREAT IT: If this is caught early,

your surgeon will use a laser or freezing (cryopexy) technique to reattach your retina to the back of the eye again. In the case of a larger retinal detachment, you may need surgery.  CAN

YOU IMPROVE YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION?  Getting regular eye care and engaging in a healthy lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating can help improve general eye health and peripheral vision,

particularly by keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range and staying on top of diabetes if you have the condition.  There’s research showing that in combination with a healthy

lifestyle, supplements may help improve your peripheral vision. Sabel suggests speaking with your doctor about supplementing your diet with  AREDS2, a multivitamin that received its name

from Age-Related Eye Disease Studies supported by the National Eye Institute. AREDS2 contains vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, zinc and other powerful nutrients that may help your vision.  You

should also get a comprehensive blood test to see if you have a B12 deficiency, or other vitamin deficiencies that trigger inflammation in the eye and the rest of the body.  But the best way

older adults can boost their vision is by catching problems before they start.  “Every person after the age of 60 should get regular vision screenings,” Sanchez says. “So, whether that’s

with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, we need to check the health and the function of the optic nerve.” It’s the most effective way to spot the warning signs of glaucoma before they

progress and cause noticeable vision loss, he explains. The same goes for other diseases of the eye.