It’s a sad fact of life that our bodies start to have more problems as we get older, and that’s true of our eyesight as well. Age-related vision changes are extremely common, and the older a person gets, the more likely they are to develop vision problems.
So if you’re starting to feel like you aren’t seeing as well as when you were young, it’s probably not your imagination. There are several different vision conditions which are commonplace among older people.
1. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is caused by damage to the macula, a part of your retina which handles straight-ahead eyesight. This can lead to increased blurriness and an inability to focus. It’s also the most common cause of blindness among older people. AMD also has a hereditary component, so if other people in your family suffer from macular degeneration, your chances are elevated as well.
2. Cataracts
Cataracts are probably the best-known vision problem in older people, caused by the eye’s lens becoming damaged and cloudy. This leads to blurry or cloudy vision. The good news is that cataract surgery is safe and common today, so if you develop cataracts, it’s very likely that your eyesight can be restored.
3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by a buildup of fluids in the eye, creating internal pressure which causes pain and damages the eye. Glaucoma often slowly builds over time, which is why it tends to affect the old more often than the young. Many may even have painless early-stage glaucoma without knowing it. This is why it’s important for older people to have glaucoma tests whenever you go to your local eye care center for a checkup.
4. Astigmatism
Astigmatism is caused by differences in the curvature of the eye, between the front and back. Unless the curvature is the same, the eye cannot properly focus. Astigmatism also tends to affect night vision more than day vision. It can happen to people of any age, but tends to be more common among older people, and will get worse with age. Fortunately, it can be corrected easily with lenses, or more rarely, with surgery.
If you’re experiencing vision changes as you age, please don’t ignore the symptoms. They will only get worse over time! It’s a good idea to get a vision test at least once a year, including pupil dilation, to check for any age-related eye conditions.
Contact Valley Eyecare Center to schedule an appointment.
