What Causes Our Eyesight to Get Worse as We Age?

Just as with your overall physical abilities, your vision is likely to change as you get older. The eyes can exhibit age related decreases in performance. However, this typically happens after the age of 60. Some changes related to age and vision is known as presbyopia, which is typically normal and does not signal any warning of disease. However, other age related complications including cataracts are very serious and common in seniors which can only be corrected with cataract surgery.

When to Expect Changes

After the age of 40 years old you will probably notice that it is a lot hard to focus in on objects that are up close. This is caused by presbyopia. Remember this is typically normal loss of focusing as your lenses are starting to harden in the eye. For those who catch presbyopia early on, they can generally treat it by holding things further away from you. However, as it worsens the need for corrective treatment is a must. Treatment for prolonged presbyopia is to get multifocal contact lenses, multifocal glasses, or reading glasses. However, there are times when corrective surgery such as monovision LASIK and conductive keratoplasty.

Early 50’s

After the age of 50 presbyopia will begin to become more advanced. There may be a need to wear contact lenses and glasses more frequently or even require a stronger prescription. This is when you need to see an eye doctor for an evaluation. Many older adults find that they need one pair of glasses for normal activities and another type of glasses for when working on things such as reading a book or working at a computer desk.

Early 60’s

Commonly found in adults 60 years of age or older, are more severe eye complications including cataracts. According to Mayo Clinic approximately have of all 65 year old seniors in the US have some form of cataracts present in their eyes. Once they reach the age of seventy the risks are even higher and the chances of having cataracts are more severe. In fact, doctors predict that in the year 2020 more than 20 million US seniors will have cataracts.

The good news is that modern medicine and surgeries work great for cataracts. It is extremely safe and highly effective. Most patients who undergo this surgery report regaining 100 percent of their vision that was once lost as a result of the cataracts. Those who believe they have cataracts should immediately contact their eye doctor. The sooner it is detected and removed, the better the chances are of restoring vision to 100 percent.

No one said that getting older would be fun at all times. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, scheduling routine checkups, and reporting any concerns early on is the best way to assure that your health will be intact years from now. If there is a history of age related vision impairment in your family, getting in the habit of a healthier lifestyle and preventative practices is the best way to overcome them.