Getting Older? So Are Your Eyes. Look Out for These Common Vision Problems.

As we get older, it’s normal to notice some vision problems. Issues like difficulty telling colors apart and taking more time to adapt to changes in the amount of light are all too common. Daily activities like looking at a computer screen or exchanging text messages on your phone or spending time outside without protective sunglasses can increase risks for eyestrain and vision problems.
Aging Vision Means Common Vision Problems
As the years tick by, it’s common to have more problems regarding your vision. Many older people find themselves having increased difficulty seeing things up close, distinguishing between colors and noticing more sensitivity to glare and needing more light for specific tasks.
A lot of the problems you might encounter with aging eyes stem from specific conditions. Here are some to keep on your radar.
Presbyopia
Have you noticed you’re squinting at menus or turning up the brightness to try and read texts on your phone? You might have presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness.
After age 40, most people will deal with some level of gradual loss of their eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for correcting this issue, from eyeglasses and contacts to surgical solutions.
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision problems, including vision loss, in people over 50. This condition affects your central vision but leaves your peripheral vision unchanged. You get AMD when your macula, a key part of your retina, changes. Most people get dry AMD, which causes you to lose your central vision slowly over time.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes don’t just cause redness, a stinging sensation, and discomfort. The condition can also blur your vision. People of all ages deal with dry eyes, but the issue is most frequent for older people. This is because our bodies make fewer tears as we get older. After age 65, it’s highly likely for people to have some dry eye symptoms.
Fortunately, over-the-counter artificial tears are an easy solution for many people.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a blanket term for a variety of conditions related to damage to the optic nerve that can cause serious vision problems. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, usually doesn’t cause symptoms at first, but slowly deteriorates the peripheral vision. Without treatment to relieve the pressure on the optic nerve and prevent further vision loss, the condition can eventually lead to total blindness.
Cataracts
More than 50% of Americans over the age of 80 either have cataracts or have had them removed.
Cataracts are caused by the proteins in the eye start to break down and clump together. Over time, this causes visible cloudiness in the eye and makes vision fuzzy, causes colors to look faded and diminishes night vision.
While different eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions can help, many eye doctors eventually recommend surgery to remove the cataract.
Common Vision Problems and Solutions
Aging eyes can mean problems down the road, but with regular eye checkups, your chances of catching problems early on are far greater. A good eye doctor can evaluate your eyes and catch issues early when they’re easiest to treat. That’s why the Vision Plan from NCRGEA and AMBA is so important. The plan covers annual WellVision exams, 100% coverage for most lenses, even progressives, and thousands of nationwide in-network providers. Sign up today – acceptance is GUARANTEED! – at www.ambadentalvision.com/ncrgea#vision or call 800-956-1228.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/presbyopia/symptoms-causes/syc-20363328
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma
2023 Legislative Goals Update
LivingPower September/October 2023

Representing our state’s more than 357,000 state and local retirees, your NCRGEA board of directors, executive director, and government relations team create a series of legislative goals that best addresses the quality of life for North Carolina’s government retirees. These goals are developed to align with the legislative biennium, a two-year session consisting of one long and one short session, beginning in each odd-number year.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our country, there was a dramatic shift in the quality of life for everyone, including our members and all in retirement. NCRGEA worked to address this with more holistic and expansive legislative goals focusing on healthcare, telehealth, and broadband.
Our focus to keep our state’s pension system healthy and productive for you and generations of retirees remains steadfast. In this new age, job vacancies in all industries have increased substantially. This is especially true in government, where roughly 30 percent of public sector openings remain unfilled. Why does this matter to you? All public sector employees contribute to their respective pension systems. When vacancies are high, less employee and employer revenue is contributed to the pension systems.
Here’s a status report of 2023-2024 biennium legislative goals:
- Advocate for annual cost of living adjustments for all government retirees.
While the budget remains unfinished at press time, your NCRGEA government relations team has tirelessly pursued additional money for state and local retirees. Local retirees can only receive a bonus or COLA with approval by the Local Government Retirement System Board of Trustees. Such a vote will likely occur in January 2024. On our website, you can learn more about the Local Government Trustees and statutes relating to Local Government COLA processes. For state government retirees and retired teachers, bonus or COLA money is expected in the final state budget. We will send a legislative update to all members by email when the biennium budget is approved. - Strengthen the state’s defined benefit plan to attract and retain the best and brightest public servants.
Efforts to increase salaries for teachers and state government professionals are well underway, and such raises will be released when the state house and senate agree on a tax package as well as salary pay for active employees. - Ensure the State of North Carolina will continue to fulfill its constitutional requirement to fully fund North Carolina Retirement Systems and the State Health Plan.
The State of North Carolina is bound by the North Carolina Constitution and case law to guarantee pensioners’ benefits. The state will fully fund both the pension system and State Health Plan this biennium. - Increase in-person and telehealth access, improving health outcomes for retirees.
Healthcare for all North Carolinians has been a battleground in the General Assembly. The largest has been a shift in legislative opinion regarding Medicaid expansion. At the same time, significant legislation on how hospitals are approved and managed, along with bills focused on improving health outcomes for the elderly and children, have been debated. - Expand first, middle, and last-mile broadband opportunities to provide increased, dependable, affordable access to broadband.
Six broadband bills were introduced for the 2023 long session, many including expanded access in rural areas. An existing effort, the GREAT grant act, has included stepped-up funding since the pandemic. - Expand the Bailey tax exemption for state and local retirees and pursue other tax exemption opportunities.
Tax exemption bills for government retirees were filed in both the House and Senate. It appears future discussion of this type of legislation may roll into next year’s short session.
More details on the status of bills related to NCRGEA legislative’s agenda can be found on NCRGEA’s FastDemocracy Bill Tracker, that is available to you on our website.
How to Help Loved Ones Lower Their Risk of Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. In 2022, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer. In 2022, approximately 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
Although there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, living a healthy lifestyle may lower the risk.
Three lifestyle-related breast cancer risk factors
- There is a clear link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer. Having even one alcoholic drink a day may increase risk by 7% to 10%. Two to three drinks have about a 20% higher risk. Though it is best not to drink alcohol, women who do drink should limit and moderate their consumption.
- Being overweight or obese after menopause increases breast cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout your life and avoiding excess weight gain is another important step that can help reduced the risk of developing breast cancer. Limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, fat, and/or added sugars, and that provide few nutrients.
- Evidence is growing that inactivity increases breast cancer risk, especially in women past menopause. It is recommended that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week (or a combination of these). Getting to or going over the upper limit of 300 minutes is ideal. Limit the time you spend sitting, lying down, watching TV, and looking at your phone or computer. Doing some physical activity on top of your usual activities, no matter what your level of activity, can have many health benefits.
Other factors
Other areas that may potentially increase the risk of breast cancer include the following: not having children, not breastfeeding, birth control methods that utilize hormones, menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen (often combined with progesterone), and breast implants.
Approximately 1 in 8 women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It’s just one more good reason to be ready with a Cancer plan from NCRGEA and AMBA. It can help cover the cost of treatments and related expenses like travel and other out-of-pocket costs. To learn more about Cancer Insurance, contact AMBA at 800-956-1228 or request more information at www.amba-review.com/NCRGEA
2024 State Health Plan Open Enrollment Medicare Outreach Events
LivingPower September/October 2023
Open Enrollment is October 9th-27th.
Learn more about your 2024 health plan options to help you make the best choice for 2024!
Plan to attend one of the State Health Plan’s Medicare Outreach events. Register by visiting the State Health Plan’s website at www.shpnc.org/upcoming-events.

Statement on Budget from NCRGEA Executive Director Tim O’Connell
September 20, 2023
Tuesday night, legislative leadership from both the House and Senate chambers announced that they had reached a $30 billion budget agreement after a weeks-long stalemate between the two chambers. The budget includes a 4 percent bonus for retired teachers and state government employees. This 4 percent bonus will be distributed in November 2023. Retirees may receive an additional bonus or a cost-of-living adjustment next year in the 2024 legislative short session. The 2020-2022 biennium budget included bonuses totaling 6 percent for state employees, including the additional 4% awarded in the legislature’s short session last year.
The executive leadership and board of NCRGEA wish to thank the legislature for its work to provide inflation-negating money for our state’s deserving retirees. We also want to thank the many legislative champions who fought determinedly on behalf of more than 250,000 state retirees who taught, served, or protected the people of North Carolina and continue to contribute to society and their local economies in meaningful ways. While it looks like this chapter is successfully ending, our work for local government retirees continues in conjunction with the Local Government Employees’ Trustees Board and related organizations. We will never cease to strongly advocate for all government retirees in North Carolina.
September’s Recipe: The Best Turkey Chili You’ll Ever Eat

This hearty recipe is from a reader in North Carolina. It’s a great recipe to welcome in the autumn – it’s perfectly spiced, packed with plenty of protein and fiber, and has a truly addicting flavor. This healthy recipe’s ingredients include lean ground turkey so is a healthier alternative to a ground beef version but loses none of the deliciousness!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 chopped yellow onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 chopped medium red bell pepper
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
- 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
- For topping: cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, cilantro, sour cream
Stovetop Instructions
- Place oil in a large pot and place over medium high heat. Add in onion, garlic and red pepper and saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add in ground turkey and break up the meat; cooking until no longer pink. Next add in chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper and salt; stir for about 20 seconds.
- Add tomatoes, chicken broth, kidney beans and corn. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary.
- Garnish with anything you’d like.
Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.
NCRGEA is compiling a Digital Holiday Dessert collection of recipes for 2023! If you have a dessert recipe you’d like to share, Submit A Dessert here by October 10, 2023.
Hitting the Road with NCRGEA

Hello North Carolina local government and state retirees! North Carolina Retired Governmental
Employees’ Association’s in-person Local Outreach Meetings took a short break in July and August—
but we’re coming back in September stronger than ever.
NCRGEA is back on the road with seven in-person meetings in September and October. We are fortunate to have our good friends from the NC Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Information Insurance Program [SHIIP] and Humana to advise on your open enrollment processes. Our representatives from AMBA will offer information on supplemental dental and vision programs. These meetings will be a great opportunity to get your questions answered by subject matter experts. Mark your calendars!
A Message from Executive Director Tim O’Connell
August 30, 2023

Today, I write to you as our state prepares for the advent of Hurricane Idalia. We North Carolinians are not strangers to such events. Many of our NCRGEA members played significant past roles in developing emergency preparedness plans, participating in rescue operations and frequently working through long and stressful recovery efforts in their communities — even when their own residences and families were impacted. Our thoughts are with all the current public service employees charged with these responsibilities in North Carolina and beyond with this pending weather event.
I encourage you to monitor the tracking of #HurricaneIdalia through your preferred weather information source and review the information provide by the State of North Carolina at www.readync.gov.
Wishing everyone the most positive outcome, and once again express our gratitude to the public service staff who will be working on behalf of us all with Hurricane Idalia’s projected path toward North Carolina.
Sincerely,
Tim O’Connell
NCRGEA Executive Director
www.NCRGEA.com