Have you recently turned 40 or 50, only to realize that you have to squint when reading a book or looking at traffic signs in the distance? If so, you aren’t alone. You might even assume this is just a natural part of getting older. And while it’s true that vision changes with age, not all of these changes are normal.
At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our team understand that age-related vision changes can be frustrating, but luckily, they’re usually manageable.
Read on to learn why these changes happen, what’s normal, and what’s cause for concern — so you can get the help you need.
Some people assume that age-related vision changes only happen to people who smoke or have underlying medical issues. In reality, everyone’s eyes naturally change with age.
As you get older, your eye muscles gradually lose their elasticity, your lenses become stiffer, and daily tear production declines. While these changes affect everyone to a different degree, common symptoms include blurry close vision, dry eyes, and reduced night vision.
Common age-related vision changes that virtually everyone experiences include:
Presbyopia commonly affects people 45 and older. It causes objects up close, such as the text in a book, to appear blurry, making you squint and strain. Presbyopia occurs when the lens of the eye stiffens with age, affecting its ability to focus.
The lacrimal glands, which produce tears, shrink with age and don’t make tears as efficiently. As a result, many middle-aged people experience drier, itchier, or irritated eyes with greater frequency.
Many adults find that driving at night becomes more challenging due to glare from lights or reduced vision. This happens because of age-related changes in the eyes, including fewer light-sensitive rod cells, and in some cases, the early stage of cataract development.
The symptoms these changes cause can be startling, but they’re usually nothing to worry about. In many cases, we can help you manage them with glasses, contact lenses, or prescription eyedrops.
Vision changes that aren’t necessarily age-related and may indicate more serious issues include:
Everyone has blurry vision and sees floaters occasionally, but if these issues occur suddenly or persist, it’s important to identify the cause as quickly as possible. While not always serious, both of these symptoms can be signs of damage to the retina, a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye.
Do you have difficulty seeing things in front of you or on the edges of your vision? These signs may indicate serious eye diseases, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. Having a prompt screening with our team can provide peace of mind and prevent these issues from worsening.
When driving, are there noticeable halos around headlights and street lamps? Does your vision appear cloudy or shaded even on bright, sunny days? These symptoms are possible signs of cataracts, which cloud the natural lens of your eye.
Many people who wear glasses or contacts need to update their prescription every few years, but if this is happening much more frequently — like every six months, for example — it could be due to an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
The good news is that routine eye exams can catch all of these issues. Treatments are available that can slow disease progression or restore your vision.
If you’re 40 or older and have been noticing concerning vision changes, don’t wait to undergo a comprehensive exam. Chances are there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. To get started, schedule a visit at Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.