Aging doesn't just affect your joints and skin. Your vision is also at risk. Here's what you need to know about cataracts, presbyopia, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
It’s an inevitable fact of life: Your eyes change as you get older. For one thing, your risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration increases with age. And, as those in their forties can tell you, reading and seeing things up close becomes a problem because of a condition called presbyopia.
Here’s an overview of how your eyes change with age and what you can do to help your eyes stay healthy.
Aging: How Vision Is Affected
Presbyopia is the most common effect of age on vision. “As we age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible,” says James Salz, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists. When the eye lens becomes more rigid, people have trouble focusing on close objects.
The following are some other ways in which aging can affect vision:
Lighting. As our eyes age, we need more light to see well, especially when we read or do other close-range tasks.
Glare. Age-related changes to the lens cause light entering the eye to be scattered instead of focused mostly on the retina — the light-sensing layer of cells at the back of the eye — producing glare and adding to vision problems.
Colors. The lenses in your eyes can become discolored — for example, by cataracts — making it more difficult to distinguish colors.
Tear production. The tear glands in the eyes make fewer tears with age, leading to dry, irritated eyes, particularly among postmenopausal women.
Vision Problems in Older Eyes
Age also increases your risk for eye diseases. In people age 40 and over, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataracts are the most common eye problems.
Age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration, which affects the part of the retina crucial for sharp and clear vision, is the leading cause of blindness in Caucasian people over age 65.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that affect pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure affects the optic nerve, which carries images to the brain. People over age 60 are at increased risk for glaucoma.
Cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye, commonly caused by aging. In age-related cataracts, the center of the lens gradually becomes hard and cloudy; it eventually becomes difficult for a person to see things at a distance and even to distinguish colors.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
Some age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, may cause few or no symptoms until the disease is at an advanced stage. For this reason, it’s important to see a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Double vision in one eye, a possible symptom of cataracts
Reduced ability to see at night, a possible symptom of cataracts
Colors appearing faded or tinted with yellow, a possible symptom of cataracts
Sensitivity to light or glare, a possible symptom of cataracts
Distorted vision that makes straight lines look blurred or results in a blind spot appearing in the center of your vision, a possible symptom of macular degeneration
Blurry vision, a symptom of a number of potential eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and, in diabetics, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy
Any fluctuations in vision, a possible sign of a systemic disorder such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Appearance of floaters or flashes; occasional floaters are normal, but if you see a noticeable increase in floaters, especially if accompanied by flashes of light, you could be at risk for retinal detachment, which requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness
Eye pain, a possible symptom of glaucoma
Caring for Aging Eyes
Annual eye exams for anyone age 65 and older are essential for preventing and getting early treatment for eye diseases.
Also, the following tips can help you protect aging eyes:
Take supplements with lutein, which can help reduce the risk of chronic eye disorders
Always wear sunglasses outdoors to help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration
Eat a nutritious diet that includes dark, leafy green vegetables and orange foods such as carrots, which contain lutein
While presbyopia and increased risk for macular degeneration and other eye conditions are an inevitable part of aging, you can take steps — no matter what your age — to ensure that your eyes stay healthy.
Last Updated: 01/20/2010
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2010 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.
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