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\n\tAt a Glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n Things to know and remember:<\/p>\n You may barely notice the changes at first. Maybe you’ve found yourself reaching more often for your glasses to see up close. You might have trouble adjusting to glaring lights or reading when the light is dim. You may even have put on blue socks thinking they were black. These are some of the normal changes to your eyes and vision as you age.<\/p>\n As more Americans head toward retirement and beyond, scientists expect the number of people with age-related eye problems to rise dramatically. You can’t prevent all age-related changes to your eyes. But you can take steps to protect your vision and reduce your risk for serious eye disease in the future. Effective treatments are now available for many disorders that may lead to blindness or visual impairment. You can also learn how to make the most of the vision you have.<\/p>\n “Vision impairment and blindness are among the top 5 causes of disability in older adults,” says Dr. Cynthia Owsley, an eye researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Vision changes can make it difficult to perform everyday activities, such as reading the mail, shopping, cooking, walking safely and driving. “Losing your vision may not be life-threatening, but it certainly affects your quality of life,” Owsley says.<\/p>\n\t\t\tHow’s Your Vision?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t As you age, some decline in your senses is expected. Eyesight is often one of the first senses affected by aging. It’s important to learn what’s normal for aging eyes, what may be a sign of disease, and how to compensate for changes. Even a slight deterioration of any of your senses can be scary. Not only can it interfere with your safety and your ability to understand your surroundings, but also it can have a huge impact on your overall comfort, independence and quality of life.<\/p>\n You can minimize the impact of age-related vision loss on daily life, boost eye health in general, and reduce disease risk by monitoring vision changes, identifying problems, creating an eye-friendly environment, and adjusting your lifestyle habits and dietary choices.<\/p>\n\t\t\tNormal Age-Related Vision Changes<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Not all declines in vision quality are the result of disease; certain anatomical changes naturally occur as the eyes age. The various internal and external structures of the eyes, which all work together to help people see clearly at various distances and under different lighting conditions, begin to wear down as people get older.<\/p>\n Common age-related vision complaints include:<\/p>\n “I can’t see as clearly as I used to.”<\/em><\/p>\n “I have difficulty seeing objects close up.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Colors don’t seem as vivid.”<\/em><\/p>\n “It’s getting more difficult to see in the dark.”<\/em><\/p>\n “I’m less able to adapt to glare.”<\/em><\/p>\n “I need more light to see.”<\/em><\/p>\n The most significant age-related changes seem to occur in the lens and the pupil; these account for the majority of vision limitations people experience as they get older. The extent to which these changes affect vision varies a bit with each person. But regardless of the degree to which these changes affect you, you can compensate for them and help ensure they don’t endanger your safety or make it difficult for you to enjoy life. The solution may be as simple as using brighter lights around the house to help prevent accidents caused by weak eyesight or seeing your doctor more frequently to screen for age-related diseases.<\/p>\n\t\t\tWhat’s Not a Normal Part of Aging?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t As you get older, it is very important to have regular eye examinations. Some eye changes may signal something more serious than age-related changes, such as an eye disease that needs medical treatment. Even if you are not experiencing eye symptoms, regular checkups are a must.<\/p>\n Many eye diseases do not have warning symptoms but could be minimized or slowed with proper treatment. For example, although eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment are often painless and the onset is gradual, they can greatly impair vision if not promptly treated.<\/p>\n These are several eye problems that are more common as people age, but they can affect anyone. There are some simple measures that people of any age can take to help ease their comfort and see better.<\/p>\n Presbyopia<\/strong> is the loss of ability to see close objects or small print. It is a normal process that happens slowly over a lifetime. You may not notice any change until after age 40. People with presbyopia often hold reading materials at arm’s length. Some people get headaches or “tired eyes” while reading or doing other close work. Presbyopia is often corrected with reading glasses.<\/p>\n Floaters<\/strong> are tiny spots or specks that float across the field of vision. Most people notice them in well-lit rooms or outdoors on a bright day. Floaters often are normal, but can sometimes be indications of eye problems such as retinal detachment, especially if they are accompanied by light flashes. If you notice a sudden change in the type or number of spots or flashes, see your eye doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Blepharitis<\/strong>: Is a common inflammation of the eyelids which may be associated with itchy, irritated, red eyes and flakes on the lashes. Treatment is aimed at halting the inflammatory process, keeping the lids clean and eliminating the reservoir for bacteria. Early diagnosis and intervention can decrease the severity of its effects and improve the outcome of this frequently chronic disorder<\/p>\n Dry eyes<\/strong> happen when tear glands cannot make enough tears or produce poor quality tears. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, causing itching, burning or even some loss of vision. Your eye doctor may suggest using a humidifier in your home or special eye drops that simulate real tears. Surgery may be needed in more serious cases of dry eyes.<\/p>\n Tearing<\/strong>, or having too many tears, can come from being sensitive to light, wind, or temperature changes. Protecting your eyes by shielding them or wearing sunglasses can sometimes solve the problem. Tearing may also mean that you have a more serious problem, such as an eye infection or a blocked tear duct. In addition, people with dry eyes may tear excessively because dry eyes are easily irritated. Your eye doctor can treat or correct both of these conditions.<\/p>\n\t\t\tCommon age-related eye diseases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t Additionally, there are a number of eye diseases and disorders common in aging adults:<\/p>\n Cataracts<\/strong> are cloudy areas that cover part of or the entire lens. The eye lens is clear like a camera lens. Cataracts keep light from easily passing through the lens to the back of the eye (the retina), causing the loss of eyesight. Cataracts often form slowly, causing no pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. Some stay small and do not alter eyesight. If they become large or thick, cataracts can often be removed with surgery.<\/p>\n Cataract surgery is very safe and is one of the most common surgeries done in the United States. During surgery, the doctor takes out the clouded lens and, in most cases, puts in a clear plastic lens, restoring normal sight.<\/p>\n Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). <\/em><\/strong>The macula is the small central portion of the retina containing millions of nerve cells (cones) that are sensitive to light. This are of the retina is responsible for detailed vision, such as facial recognition and reading . AMD is characterized by the loss cells in this area causing blurred central vision. It contributes to vision loss but does not cause total blindness. There is no cure but some people have been shown to benefit from nutritional supplements. People with the more severe type of AMD may benefit from laser or injection of medication.<\/p>\n Diabetic retinopathy. <\/em><\/strong>This disorder is a complication of diabetes. It occurs when small blood vessels stop feeding the retina properly. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels may leak fluid, causing blurred vision or no symptoms at all. As the disease advances, you may notice floaters, blind spots or cloudiness of vision. New blood vessels may grow and bleed into the center of the eye, causing serious vision loss or blindness. In most cases, laser treatment can prevent blindness. It is very important that people with diabetes have an eye exam with pupil dilation every year. Very importantly, the likelihood of diabetic retinopathy is significantly decreased with good blood sugar control.<\/p>\n Retinal detachment. <\/em><\/strong>Retinal detachment occurs when the inner and outer layers of the retina become separated. Without a retina, the eye cannot communicate with the brain, making vision impossible. Symptoms of retinal detachment include: a sudden appearance of spots or flashes of light; vision that appears wavy, as if you were under water; and a dark shadow anywhere in your field of vision. With surgery or laser treatment, doctors often can often reattach the retina and bring back all or part of your eyesight.<\/p>\n While eye problems and eye diseases become more prevalent with age, many can be prevented or corrected if you:<\/p>\n See your family physician regularly<\/strong> to check for diseases that could cause eye problems, like diabetes.<\/p>\n Visit your senior eye care specialist every one-to-two years.<\/strong> Having a complete eye exam with an eye specialist is important because most eye diseases can be treated when found in an early stage. The eye doctor will dilate or enlarge your pupils by putting drops in your eyes. This is the only way to find some eye diseases that have no early signs or symptoms. You should also have a screening for glaucoma. The doctor will then test your eyesight, your glasses, and your eye muscles.<\/p>\n Have an eye exam with pupil dilation, at least once every year,<\/strong> if you have diabetes or a family history of eye disease. See an eye doctor immediately if you have any loss of eyesight, blurred vision, eye pain, double vision, redness, swelling of your eye or eyelid, or fluids coming from the eye.<\/p>\n Anatomy Eye Care Videos<\/p>\n\tView Video<\/a><\/var>\n\t\n
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