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What to Expect as Our Eyes Age

smiling older woman

Most people understand that aging impacts the human body. However, many people are caught off guard when it comes to how aging effects our eyes. 

Age-related eye changes are fairly common, though each one has a different kind of impact. Some may produce mild discomfort or easily correctable vision changes, while others may have a lasting effect on visual acuity. At times, age-related eye changes can be serious, causing permanent loss of vision and more. 

If you are wondering about age-related eye problems, here is a quick overview of some of the most common ones. 

Common Age-Related Eye Changes 

Presbyopia 

Presbyopia is an eye condition where you lose visual acuity when viewing an object up close or reading small print. Those who suffer from it may start holding things they need to read further away from their face to try and compensate, may have trouble reading, or might experience headaches when doing up-close work. 

In most cases, reading glasses or bifocals are enough to correct the issue. However, you may need to update the strength of your lenses regularly to compensate for ongoing changes. 

Dry Eye 

As we age, our tear ducts may struggle to produce enough tears to keep our eyes comfortable. Usually, the most common side effects are discomfort and a reduction in visual clarity. 

Luckily, this is an issue that can often be addressed with eye drops or a humidifier. However, severe cases may require surgery to correct. 

Tearing 

At times, excessive tearing also occurs when people age. Often, it’s the of a shift in light, wind, or temperature change sensitivity, though it could also be caused by a tear duct issue or eye infection. Some people with dry eye might also experience periods of excessive tearing. Usually, it’s an attempt to rehydrate the eye that goes a bit overboard. 

In many cases, the core causes can be addressed by your eye doctor, alleviating the tearing issue. 

Floaters 

Floaters are tiny spots that seem to drift across your visual field. In many cases, they are normal and of no concern. However, if accompanied by flashes of light or if they increase dramatically, it could indicate a more significant problem. 

Cataracts 

Cataracts form when various proteins found in the eye begin to clump, leading to cloudiness in the lens of a person’s eye. As the cloudiness worsens, a person’s vision becomes blurry or makes it seem like everything is covered in a fog. Usually, they form slowly over time, making them more common in older individuals. Thankfully, cataract surgery is often quite effective, potentially fully restoring any lost visual acuity caused by cataracts. 

Macular Degeneration 

Age-related macular degeneration leads to the loss of central vision, though not total blindness. Often, people with it struggle to read or recognize faces. As with many conditions, early detection and treatment are crucial for preserving vision. If a case is advanced, there is no cure, though its progress may be slowed with certain kinds of treatment. 

Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is a condition that occurs when the pressure in the eye increases, something that is more likely to emerge as a person ages. If not treated, it can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness 

What to Do If You Experience Visions Changes 

While many of the age-related changes above are common, that doesn’t mean they should go unaddressed. In many cases, proper treatment can restore or improve visual acuity, allowing you to see better as you age. 

Additionally, some of the symptoms above could be indicative of other eye issues, including some that may lead to irreversible eye damage. As a result, it is always wise to see your eye doctor if you experience any changes to your vision. That way, they can identify the cause of your issue and plan an appropriate course of treatment, should one be necessary. 

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of patients of all ages, ensuring they can see as clearly as possible today and into the future. If you are experiencing any vision changes or simply haven’t had an eye exam recently, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today. 

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What Is Your Eye Health IQ?

Many people have grown up knowing certain vision “facts.” They may have heard them from their parents as a child, passing the tidbit of vision along to their children as their parents did with them.  

However, some of this vision “wisdom” may or may not be true. If you are wondering what your eye health IQ is, here’s a look at some common beliefs and whether they are founded.  

Eating Carrots Boosts Your Eyesight  

This is a popular belief that is somewhat true. While eating any food won’t bring your vision back to 20/20 after it’s degraded, carrots contain vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant important for eye health.  

Reading in Low Light Damages Your Eyes  

This one is false. While reading in dim light might cause you to strain, leading to a headache, it doesn’t damage your eyes. However, it does become harder to do as a person ages due to natural changes that occur in a person’s vision over time.  

Screen Time Harms Your Vision  

Yes and no. While being in front of a screen doesn’t damage your eyes, it can cause some issues. Headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision can occur, usually due to eye fatigue. People tend to blink less when they are concentrating on a screen, causing eyes to get irritated and tired. However, the screen itself isn’t causing permanent damage.  

UV Rays Can Sunburn Your Eyes  

This one is true. UV rays can burn your eyes just as they can burn your skin, causing your eyes to be red and itchy. Additionally, long-term UV exposure can lead to other kinds of eye damage, including to the retina. It may even promote the development of cataracts.  

Smoking is Bad for Your Eyes  

Here’s another true one. Smoking (including secondhand smoke) can be harmful to your vision. It may lead to the earlier development of cataracts and may increase your risk of macular degeneration and optic nerve damage, all of which can potentially lead to blindness.  

Squinting Damages Your Vision  

This one is false. While it may lead to headaches and crow’s feet wrinkles, squinting doesn’t harm your vision. It can actually help you focus. However, if you’re always squinting, it could signal a vision issue, like the need for new glasses or the presence of inflammation that’s making your eyes sensitive to light.  

The Eye Are the Window to the Soul  

While you can’t see a person’s soul through their eyes, you can find out a lot about their overall health. Certain eye symptoms could indicate the presence of other conditions. For example, dry eyes may suggest an autoimmune disorder, while blurry vision might occur in individuals with diabetes.  

Hopefully, you scored high on your eye health IQ test. If you haven’t tested your eyes’ health recently, take this opportunity to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. The ECVA team works diligently to care for our patients’ health and would be happy to check your eyes to ensure they are in the best shape possible. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.