Vision Changes With Age: What’s Normal and What’s Cause for Concern

Your body undergoes numerous changes with age, including sore joints, decreased skin elasticity, and the dreaded appearance of wrinkles. However, it’s easy to forget that your eyes also change.

Some age-related eye changes are normal. You may notice your eyes seem drier, or you can't see as well at night. However, not all eye changes are a normal aspect of aging.

At Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge, our four skilled ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye exams and specialized treatments for age-related conditions, including retinal diseases and glaucoma.

Common age-related eye problems

As you get older, your eyes change like everything else in your body. You may notice subtle changes at first, which worsen over time. Regular eye exams are crucial to eye health, especially if you notice any of the following common changes:

Dry eyes

Your eyes typically don't produce as many tears as you get older, which leads to itchy and dry eyes. The condition may worsen if you regularly engage in excessive screen time.

Cataracts

Cataracts are common in older adults and occur when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. The result is blurry vision accompanied by changes in color perception.

Floaters and flashes

An increase in eye floaters and light flashes is a common occurrence with age. Still, if you notice sudden, significant changes in the amount of either issue, it could signal a more serious problem.

Reduced peripheral vision

How far you can see out of the corners of your eyes also changes, leading to less distinct peripheral vision.

Light perception changes

As an older adult, you may struggle to adjust to changes in lighting, so you may require more illumination to perform tasks such as reading the newspaper. These changes are a regular part of eye aging.

Presbyopia

Have you noticed that as you get older, you need to use readers to see things up close? That's because of presbyopia. It's a typical age-related eye problem that happens when your lens becomes less flexible, making it difficult to focus on close objects.

When should I be concerned?

While some vision changes are normal with age, others are a cause for concern. If you have any of the following, it's essential to have an eye exam immediately to fix the problem and prevent further issues:

Trouble with night driving

Trouble seeing at night can be scary, but it also limits your ability to go out and do the things you love. Decreased night vision could signal cataracts or macular degeneration that we should address.

Sudden vision changes

Any type of vision change is scary, but if you experience sudden double or blurry vision, it's essential to seek treatment. Vision loss that comes on quickly is also a significant cause for concern.

Glare sensitivity

Cataracts often make it challenging to tolerate glares, especially on screens. Increasing glare sensitivity may indicate cataracts or another condition that requires treatment.

Severe irritation or pain

Any eye irritation or pain that persists without improvement is a cause for concern. Many severe conditions may lead to eye pain, including retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Large flashes of light

Some floaters are normal with age, but if they suddenly become numerous or you see flashes of light with the floaters, you may have a retinal tear or detachment.

Managing age-related eye issues

It's crucial to manage age-related eye problems before they cause permanent damage or vision loss. The best thing to do is to come see us for regular eye exams at least once a year unless you have conditions that require more frequent visits.

Eye protection is another way to protect your eyes as you age. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses that block harmful rays, or wear a large hat to protect your eyes.

A healthy diet and managing underlying health issues also contribute to maintaining good eye health. Eat plenty of veggies, which are great for your eyes, and keep your blood sugar under control to prevent diabetic eye problems.

Contact us at Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge today to schedule an appointment for an eye exam or to address age-related eye changes. You can also book online by clicking here.