Everyone can expect changes in visual acuity with age. Changes occur in the eye and its connected visual apparatus with age, but common causes of loss of good vision include excess pressure in the eye (glaucoma), age-related macula degeneration (AMD) and cateract formation. There are about 13 million Americans with AMD and most of these cases occur in elderly women. The most important single cause of common eye disorders involves oxidative damage to the structures of the eye. The dry form of AMD is caused by a combination of oxidative damage and poor circulation in the retina of the eye (light sensing area). Glaucoma must be excluded as a cause of loss of vision and if left untreated it can lead to blindness. Glaucoma should not be self-diagnosed or self-treated.