I. The eyes
A. Importance of vision
B. Image formation and vision
C. Deterrents to clear vision
1. Poor focusing
2. Poor lighting
3. Nervous system
malfunction
II. Forming images - eye components, functions, and age changes
A. Conjunctiva
B. Cornea
C. Iris and pupil
D. Ciliary body
E. Lens and suspensory ligaments
1. Transparency
2. Opacities
3. Shape
4. Elasticity
5. Presbyopia
F. Aqueous humor
G. Vitreous humor
1. Floaters
2. Flashers
III. Accommodation
A. Process
B. Age changes
IV. Retina
A. Layers and regions
B. Cones
C. Rods
D. Age changes
1. Cones
2. Rods
3. Processing
neurons
4. Pigmented
epithelium and Bruch's membrane
5. Free radicals
in the eye
V. Other eye components - structure, functions, and age changes
A. Choroid
B. Sclera
C. External muscles
D. Adipose tissue
E. Eyelids
F. Lacrimal gland
VI. Two eyes
A. Advantages
1. Field of
view
2. Depth perception
B. Depth perception (binocular vision)
1. Process
2. Age changes
VII. Age changes in vision
A. Light intensity
1. Declining
sensitivity
2. Declining
adaptability
B. Quality of light - glare
C. Visual acuity
1. Close objects
2. Distant objects
3. Moving objects
D. Depth perception (binocular vision)
E. Field of view
F. Optimizing vision
VIII. Diseases of the eyes
A. Minor diseases
1. Lacrimal
fluid
2. Eye muscles
B. Cataracts
1. Incidence
2. Causes and
effects
3. Prevention
and treatment
C. Age-related macular degeneration
1. Incidence
2. Causes and
effects
3. Treatment
D. Glaucoma
1. Open-angle
glaucoma
2. Angle-closure
glaucoma
3. Secondary
glaucoma
E. Diabetic retinopathy
1. Incidence
2. Causes and
effects
3. Prevention
and treatment
IX. The ears - monitoring four conditions
X. Hearing - structures, functions, and age changes
A. External ear
1. Pinna
2. Ear drum
3. Cerumen (ear
wax)
B. Middle ear
1. Ear bones
2. Eustachian
tube
C. Inner ear - fluids, membranes, and neurons
D. Localizing sound
E. Central nervous system
XI. Disorders in hearing
A. Presbycusis
1. Incidence
2. Effects
3. Prevention
and compensatory techniques
B. Tinnitus
XII. Detecting other stimuli
A. Gravity and changes in speed
B. Rotation
C. Age changes (gravity, changes in speed,
and rotation
D. Dizziness and vertigo
©Copyright 1999 - Augustine G. DiGiovanna - All rights reserved.
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are required to purchase the book HUMAN AGING: BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
by Augustine G. DiGiovanna, The McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, 1994 or
2000; (2) If prior written permission is obtained from Augustine G. DiGiovanna.