It is typically around 40 years of age that many people start to notice changes in their eyesight caused by aging. And in the United States, there are more than 142 million people that are currently over the age of 40. It is predicted that by the year 2030, more than 90 million people will be age 65 or older, and one in six of these people will have a vision impairment that will not be able to be corrected by glasses or contact lens. For people in these age groups, awareness of common eye symptoms can help them seek quicker treatment in order to prevent vision loss.
All adults should know what vision changes to expect, and what changes are indicative of a disease or condition that can cause irreversible damage to their vision. There are some common vision changes that adults may experience as they age, and explanations for each of them.
As our eyes age, the lens becomes less flexible, which can make it harder to read at close range or do work at a near range. This condition is called presbyopia, which is Greek for “aging eye”. Presbyopia is the cause of having difficulty reading small text in books or menus, or having a harder time doing detail work like sewing or building models. Nearly all adults will experience this to some degree past the age of 40, and the most common treatment is simply the use of reading glasses.
Another common occurrence is experiencing sudden burning or stinging of the eyes, or having them water excessively. While these may seem like contrary symptoms, they’re actually both indicative of dry eyes. This is very common as people age, especially for women in menopause as the hormonal changes can alter the quality of tears the eye produces. For most people, relief is as simple as occasionally using over the counter eye drops when necessary. If these aren’t sufficient, consulting with an eye doctor can get you medication or surgical options that might work better.
Many people will also see clouds floating in their vision or the occasional flash of light. These clouds, sometimes called floaters, are actually tiny clumps of cells floating in the vitreous gel, which is the clear fluid inside of the eye. The flashes of light are caused by the vitreous gel pulling at the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Floaters and flashes become more common as we age, but a sudden increase could be the sign of a torn retina, in which case medical help should be sought immediately.
Another common issue is cataracts, which is the clouding of the eye’s lens that nearly everyone develops as they age. Cataracts can cause colors to appear muted, and lights to appear to have halos around them. Treatment for cataracts is typically surgery, and this is one of the most common elective surgeries in the United States. Cataract surgery has been shown to significantly improve vision and quality of life.