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Age-Related Vision Changes: What To Expect

Age-Related Vision Changes: What To Expect

As you age, you may have vision changes related to age. However, you should pay attention to eye issues since they are familiar.

Brand-new or deteriorating eyesight abnormalities cause some issues. These could develop gradually as you age. Others occur swiftly and abruptly and result in blindness. For this reason, it's crucial to have frequent eye checkups with a physician.

You can take precautions to reduce your chance of visual issues brought on by aging. Alternatively, you can hold off on making adjustments.

Normal aging eyesight symptoms

  • Lose focus, find it harder to focus vision up close.

  • Find it challenging to distinguish colours, such as blue from black, or to see where an object ends and its background begins.

  • Need more light to see well and more time to adjust to leaving a dark room and entering a brightly lit room.

If you're at this stage, there's no need to worry about anything other than thinking about getting "readers," prescription glasses, or contact lenses and improving the lighting throughout your home—from the kitchen to the bathroom.

And stay on schedule for regular dilated eye exams every two or three years after age 50. During this exam, your doctor puts drops in your eyes to dilate or widen the pupils to get a clear view of what's happening inside and look for signs of disease.

Actual vision loss is not a normal part of aging. But the risk everyone faces is that as you age, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye conditions and diseases.

What are some typical vision issues that aging may cause?

The following eye conditions can cause blindness and visual loss in older adults. Early symptoms could be limited or nonexistent. Your best defense is to have routine eye checkups. If your eye doctor detects a problem early on, there are frequent steps you may take to safeguard your eyesight.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

The firm, central vision required for everyday tasks like driving, reading, and seeing objects clearly can be harmed by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). During a dilated eye exam, your eye care specialist will inquire about your family history and check for AMD symptoms. Special nutritional supplements can help reduce your risk of it worsening, and treatments are available.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy. It generally doesn't show any early warning symptoms and develops slowly. Get a dilated eye exam at least once a year if you have diabetes. Maintaining healthy blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help avoid or delay the onset of diabetic retinopathy. Later laser surgery may be able to stop it from getting worse in some cases.

Cataracts

Cataracts are cloudy regions in the eye's lens, resulting in foggy or blurry vision. Some cataracts remain small and don't significantly alter your vision. Others enlarge and lose their vision. Cataract surgery is a popular and safe procedure that can help restore normal vision. Your eye doctor will watch for changes in your cataract over time to determine whether surgery will benefit you.

Glaucoma

The most common cause of glaucoma is excessive fluid pressure inside the eye. It can result in blindness and vision loss if untreated. Often, glaucoma patients don't experience any early signs or discomfort. By getting dilated eye tests every year, you may help safeguard yourself. Lasers, surgery, and prescription eye drops are all options for treating glaucoma.

Dry eye

Occurs when tear glands don't work well. You may feel stinging or burning, a sandy feeling as if something is in the eye, or another discomfort. Dry eye is common as people get older, especially for women. Your eye care professional may tell you to use a home humidifier or air purifier, special eye drops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye. For more severe cases, treatment options might include prescription medication, tear duct plugs, or surgery.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the loss of the capacity to perceive fine text or up-close items. Presbyopia is a common condition that gradually develops over a lifetime. You might see the change once you are 35 or 40. Presbyopic individuals frequently hold reading material at arm's length. While reading or performing other close tasks, some people have headaches or "tired eyes." If you have Presbyopia, reading glasses or multifocal (bifocal) lenses can help you see better.

What is low vision?

Low vision is the inability to correct your vision through glasses, contacts, medicine, surgery, or other means. Some people experience low vision as they get older. If any of the following apply to you:

  1. unable to see enough to perform daily activities like reading or cooking
  2. having trouble putting friends' or family members' faces
  3. unable to read roadway signs
  4. Lights seem to be less brilliant, you'll notice.
  5. Ask your eye doctor to check your low vision for any issues.

You can adjust to vision loss and maximize your remaining sight with vision rehabilitation programs and special tools, such as a magnifying gadget. Additionally, some initiatives provide free access to materials for those with low vision or other visual impairments, including the National Library Service.

Always check with your ophthalmologist to see if driving while impaired by eyesight is safe for you. If you have to stop driving, local businesses might be able to get you rides, or public transportation can be an option.

Some additional advice:

  • Make your room's illumination more vibrant.
  • Use robust and black felt-tip markers to write.
  • Use paper with bold lines to make it easier to write in a straight line.
  • To make the edges of any staircases in your house easier to notice and to keep you from falling, wrap the colourful tape around them.
  • Install electrical outlets and light switches in dark colours so you can see them against bright-coloured walls.
  • Use room-activated motion-activated lights. These might assist you in preventing mishaps brought on by low lighting.
  • Use phones with large screens and clocks with large numbers, and place labels in large font on the stove and microwave.

7 Tips to protect your vision right now

  • Give up smoking.
  • Uphold an average blood pressure level.
  • (If you have it) Manage your diabetes.
  • Anytime you are outside in the glaring sun, wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim.
  • Consume a diet high in fish and leafy green vegetables.
  • When performing household tasks or engaging in sports, wear safety goggles.
  • Watch out for eye tiredness. The 20/20/20 rule should be remembered if you suffer eye strain from using a computer or doing close work. Every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, look up from your task and look somewhere 20 feet away.
Conclusion

Vision changes with aging are a standard component of growing older. As we age, it is usual to encounter some vision changes. However, the precise alterations and their degree might vary from person to person. Some of these alterations include Presbyopia, dilated pupils, dry eyes, modifications to colour perception, decreased contrast sensitivity, increased susceptibility to glare, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.

Even though these alterations may be annoying or unpleasant, they are frequently manageable with corrective lenses, such as reading glasses or bifocals, and good eye care. For the early identification and treatment of any potential eye diseases, routine eye exams are essential. Additionally, maintaining good eye health and maybe delaying the onset of age-related vision impairments can be accomplished by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, frequent exercise, and protection from UV radiation.

Casey Optical Too, LLC is a pillar of vision care excellence in Albuquerque. We invite you to experience our warm and welcoming environment and schedule an appointment with the best optometrists in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Your vision is our priority, and we look forward to serving your eye care needs with the utmost dedication and expertise.

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