Age related vision changes – what to expect as we age

As we get older it is normal to start noticing changes in our vision. Vision impairment is most prevalent in people aged over 55 and not only can it affect our wellbeing, but it can also reduce quality of life if not managed correctly. Some changes we may experience as we age include:

• Age-related farsightedness also known as presbyopia which is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects. It is estimated that 687,000 Australians have presbyopia.
• A loss in ability to distinguish colours, such as blue from black or loss of perception to see where an object ends, and its background begins.
• Needing more light and taking more time to adjust to changes in light.

The following eye conditions are more common as we age:

Age-Related macular degeneration – This disease can blur your central vision and occurs when there is damage to the macular due to aging.

Cataracts – At around 40 years old, the lens in your eyes start to break down form a cloudy area on your lens called a cataract.

Diabetic retinopathy – damage to your retina can occur with high blood sugar levels due to diabetes. The retina is the part of the eye which detects light and sends signals to your brain through your optic nerve.

Dry eye – as we age tear production diminishes making dry eye a common problem in people over the age of 50. This is particularly more common in women due to hormonal changes.

Glaucoma – high pressure inside the eye can damage the optic nerve, while this can occur during any stage of life, the risk of glaucoma increased above the age of 50.

It is important to remember that many eye problems may have few to no symptoms especially in their early stages therefore having regular checks with your optometrist is important. Early detection of vision problems can help protect and prevent vision loss and are often easier to treat in their early stages.

There are many things which can be done to reduce your chance of developing eye problems as you age and protecting your vision, these include:

• Scheduling regular appointments with your optometrist, whilst this should be done at every age, this gets increasingly more important if you are over 60. If you notice any changes in your vision, make an appointment straight away. Also consider a visit to your optometrist if you notice that you are tripping over objects or bumping into things regularly.
• Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure can cause eye problems if they are not controlled or are left untreated. Your health care provider can perform regular checks for these diseases.
• Wear sunglasses when outside to protect from UV rays.
• Avoid smoking as this can signification increase your chance of developing glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
• Limit screen time and take regular breaks when working on a computer.
• Use personal protective equipment appropriately, such as eye protection when working with chemicals or using power tools.