Did you know?… One in six Americans aged 65 and older have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. According to the Academy of Ophthalmology, the risk of eye disease increases with age, yet many older adults neglect to see an ophthalmologist for care. In honor of September being Healthy Aging Month, we want to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss – and provide steps to help seniors take care of their sight.
Just like your body, your eyes and vision change over time. While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, here are five common age-related vision changes:
1. Need for more light. As you age, you need more light to see as well as you used to.
2. Difficulty reading and doing close work. Printed materials can become less clear, in part because the lens in your eye becomes less flexible over time. This makes it harder for your eyes to focus on near objects than when you were younger.
3. Problems with a glare. When driving, you may notice additional glare from headlights at night or sun reflecting off windshields or pavement during the day. Changes to the lenses in your eyes cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina.
4. Changes in color perception. The normally clear lens located inside your eye may start to discolor. This makes it harder to see and distinguish between certain color shades.
5. Reduced tear production. With age, the tear glands in your eyes may produce fewer tears. This is particularly true for women experiencing hormone changes. As a result, your eyes may feel dry and irritated. Having an adequate amount of tears is essential for keeping your eyes healthy and for maintaining clear sight.
Concerned your eyes may be changing? At Minnesota Eye Consultants, we treat all condition types – cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, comprehensive eye care and more! In honor of Healthy Aging Month, visit https://www.mneye.com/request-an-appointment/ or call 952-888-5800 to schedule an appointment.
