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

Age ushers in plenty of changes, and for most of us, that includes vision changes. But while some of these changes are a regular part of aging, others can indicate a serious underlying problem that needs prompt medical attention. 

Curtis Frank, OD, and our team at Vision and Ortho-K Center are committed to helping people of all ages maintain clear vision and healthy eyes. 

In this post, learn about some of the most common symptoms to watch out for and what steps to take to avoid vision problems as you get older.

Normal changes: What to expect

While optimal eyecare habits like regular eye exams can help prevent some vision issues, most people experience some changes in vision as they get older, including these:

Presbyopia

One of the most common vision changes associated with aging is increasing difficulty with close-up vision, a condition called presbyopia. 

This change happens because the structures inside your eye become stiffer and less flexible, making it harder to focus for near work, like reading or seeing a computer or phone screen. 

There’s no “cure” for presbyopia, but reading glasses or other corrective lenses can help.

Decreased night vision

As we get older, it also becomes harder to see clearly in dim-light environments, a change that can make it more challenging to drive at night. Many people find the glare from headlights and street lamps is worse when driving at night or in the early evening, and your eyes might take longer to adjust between light and dark environments. 

Dry eyes

As we age, our eyes tend to produce fewer tears, and the tears we produce might be of lower quality, leading to dry eyes and symptoms like itching or burning, gritty sensations, or sensitivity to light. 

Ironically, dry eyes can cause excess tearing, too. Symptoms may be worse if you use a computer or do close-up work for hours a day.

While all these changes can be bothersome, the good news is that they’re very common and also very manageable with appropriate treatments. Regular eye exams play a central role in management and in preventing symptoms from getting worse.

More serious issues: Signs to look for

While many age-related eye and vision changes are harmless, there are more serious issues you need to be aware of, including conditions that can lead to permanent vision loss if not caught and treated early.

Cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration all become more common with age and, in their early stages, typically cause few or no symptoms. As these conditions progress, you might notice issues like:

• Increased numbers of floaters
• Blurry spots
• Unusual flashes of light
• A curtain-like shadow descending over your vision

These symptoms may indicate retinal detachment, a serious and vision-threatening development that requires emergency medical attention.

Other age-related changes may occur more gradually. You may experience a general decline in vision or worsening vision in dimly lit areas. Colors may appear yellowed, faded, or “washed out,” or you may find your peripheral vision has declined. 

These issues could be related to cataracts or other developing conditions. 

Unfortunately, for many people, the first symptom they notice is irreversible vision loss, especially for conditions that cause no early symptoms, like glaucoma. In fact, glaucoma is often referred to as the “silent thief of sight.”

Preserving your vision

Considering early symptoms can be very subtle or not be present at all, what can you do to protect your vision and prevent serious eye problems? Simple: Have regular comprehensive eye exams. 

During your exam, we use the most advanced diagnostic equipment to look for subtle changes that could mean serious problems down the road. Regular exams also give our team the opportunity to provide simple tips to help you protect your eyes and your vision at every age.

If it’s been a year or more since your last eye exam, now is the ideal time to schedule. Call to request an appointment with Dr. Frank and the team at Vision and Ortho-K Center in Boston, Massachusetts, today.