What are the first signs that aging is impacting my eyesight?

Common changes in vision as you age and what to do about it

Diabetes and its impact on eye health

As you age, it’s normal to notice changes in your vision, like no longer being able to read the small text on the menu at a restaurant or noticing your eyes taking longer to adjust in the dark. While some of these changes are normal, certain changes may indicate a larger problem.

Here are some of the first signs that aging is starting to affect your eyes and some symptoms you should look out for that may be indicative of eye disease:

1. Difficulty seeing up close

After the age of 40, many people start to have difficulty seeing things up close, which is called presbyopia^1,2. This occurs because as you age, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible, which makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on nearby objects¹. Presbyopia can be corrected by wearing eyeglasses, contacts or getting refractive surgery².

2. Lower contrast sensitivity

The lens in your eye is normally clear but can become discoloured as you age making it more difficult to distinguish between similar colours like dark blue and black¹. To help address this issue, you can try improving the lighting around your home and/or using opposite colours throughout your home to increase contrast^1,2

3. Difficulty seeing in low lighting conditions

Rod cells are responsible for helping you see in low lighting conditions and start to degenerate as we age². This means that it may take longer for your eyes to adjust to the dark². If this becomes a problem for you while you’re driving, speak to your eye care professional about whether it is safe for you to drive at night².

4. Issues with glare

Changes in the lenses in your eyes can scatter light on your retina rather than having it finely focused, which creates glare¹. Dimming the lighting around your house, wearing sunglasses to reduce the amount of light outdoors and/or using a matte screen filter on digital devices are all ways to help reduce glare².

5. Dry eyes

As you age, glands in your eyes produce fewer tears, causing your eyes to be drier than normal^1,2. As a result, you may experience an irritated, stinging or burning feeling^2,3. This is especially common in post-menopausal women due to hormonal changes^1,2,3.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, an eye care professional can recommend a number of remedies, including using a humidifier or eye drops.

6. Spots, floaters and flashes

As you age, you may start to notice spots, floaters and flashes in your vision^1,2. These symptoms are normally harmless and usually a result of the vitreous jellylike substance in the eye thickening and rubbing against the retina².
If you start seeing more floaters than normal accompanied by bright flashes, you should see your doctor immediately as this may be a sign that there’s a tear in your retina and it could detach^1,2.

7. Impairments in certain fields of vision

If you notice empty spots or straight lines appearing distorted or wavy in your central vision, this may be a sign of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and you should see your eye care professional for treatment options. The prognosis of AMD may be delayed by making certain lifestyle changes like healthy eating, regular exercise and/or quitting smoking⁴. Further, dry AMD can be treated with MacuMira’s microcurrent therapy to help restore and improve visual acuity. Unlike MacuMira’s therapy, other treatments cannot reverse the damage caused by dry AMD. Loss of peripheral vision could be a sign of glaucoma, which occurs when there’s damage to the optic nerve and it is no longer sending signals to your brain from this part of your visual field3. Glaucoma often has no symptoms until damage to your vision has begun. If you notice this change, you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible, as this condition can lead to permanent vision loss3.

8. Cataracts

Cataracts cause the lens to become cloudy, making vision difficult^2,3. If cataracts remain small, you can live with them without having significant impairments, but if they become larger and start to interfere with daily functioning and quality of life, you can consult your eye care professional to determine whether you need surgery³. Eye surgery for cataracts is a safe and routine treatment that can help restore your vision³.

Taking action for better eye health

It’s normal to experience vision impairments as you age; some of these changes are benign while others may be indicative of a more serious problem. Even if you don’t notice any changes in your vision, it’s important to go for regular eye exams as you get older since some conditions don’t present any signs or symptoms until they’re more progressed, like glaucoma or AMD³.

Protect your vision and maintain your quality of life with the innovative solutions from MacuMira. If you’re experiencing symptoms of age-related eye conditions, such as dry AMD, or want to take a proactive approach to your eye health, MacuMira’s non-invasive microcurrent therapy offers an effective way to improve visual acuity. Visit MacuMira to learn more about how our cutting-edge treatments can help you preserve your vision as you age. Schedule a consultation with your eye care professional today and take control of your eye health!

Disclaimer: Always speak to your primary health care provider and/or eye care provider before making any changes to your lifestyle, activities or diet.

References

1. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age?sso=y
2. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/20-ways-aging-changes-your-eyes
3. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/vision-and-vision-loss/aging-and-your-eyes
4. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration