Ask any Phoenix optometrist and they’ll tell you the same story: With a few lucky exceptions, nearly everyone’s eyesight will slowly get worse over time. Changes in the body as it ages can cause the eyes to change, and even minor alterations to the eyeball’s shape will cause big shifts in vision.
While proper eye care in youth can help stave off or slow down the progressive effects, nothing can truly halt the aging process of the eyes. As someone passes 40, they’re likely to start experiencing new vision problems.
If you’re nearing this critical period of your life, here are a few things you should know about your vision as you age.
Quick Notes On Middle-Age Vision Problems From Your Phoenix Optometrist
1 – Reduced Near Vision
A person is much more likely to lose close-up vision as the years pass and their eyes slowly change shape. There’s really not much that can be done other than transitioning into reading glasses and/or bifocals.
For this reason, regular eye exams become more important after 40 – your eyesight can, and most likely will, start requiring higher-powered lenses.
2 – Menopause
Obviously this is just for the ladies. Menopause will almost certainly bring on new vision challenges. Any “bloating” or water-retention will affect the eyes, and cause them to lose focus. It is also fairly common for post-menopausal women to have issues with dry eyes.
3 – Diabetic Conditions
Diabetes is the #1 cause of degenerative vision problems later in life, and it can contribute to both glaucoma and macular degeneration. If you have a history of diabetes in your family it is important to mention it to your Phoenix optometrist, even if you haven’t been diagnosed yourself.
Eye conditions can, in fact, be early warning signs of late-onset diabetes.
4 – Pharmaceutical Side-Effects
Finally, here’s something to keep in mind that is often overlooked: Many of the common pharmaceuticals prescribed to middle-aged patients can have ocular side-effects. Medications for blood pressure, depression or anxiety, thyroid conditions, or even arthritis can subtly affect your eyes.
If you notice vision problems after beginning a new medication, be sure to tell your doctor or optometrist as soon as possible.
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