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The aging process triggers changes in the eyes and, as a result, to your vision. Aging can also bring about age-related eye conditions that may have more severe implications for your vision and overall health. As your eyes age, understanding what to expect and what to look out for will help preserve your vision for years to come.

Common Changes To The Eyes With Age

Presbyopia is the changing of the shape of the lens inside the eye. This makes it harder to see close-up objects or fine print. It’s normal to develop presbyopia in your later years, and most people don’t identify a change in their close-up vision until after age 35 or 40.

Dry eyes occur when the tear glands don’t produce enough tears. This can be uncomfortable and may cause the eyes to itch. There are eye drops that can be used to lubricate dry eyes, which can resolve symptoms of dry eyes. If this fails, however, other treatment methods such as oral agents, mild steroid drops, tear inserts, Restasis, serum drops, and stem cell hormones may be used.

Floaters are specks in your vision. Often caused by collagen, floaters typically aren’t something to worry about. Like dry eyes, floaters can impact people at any age but are more common in older adults.

Age-Related Eye Conditions

Cataracts are technically an age-related eye condition. However, they’re extremely common among older adults, with approximately 50% of Americans at age 65 having some degree of cataract formation. A cataract occurs when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy or yellow. The lens then gradually becomes less clear and more difficult to see through. If a cataract blurs a patient’s vision to a degree that makes it challenging to complete regular activities, they may consider cataract surgery to remove and replace the blurry lens.

Glaucoma is a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness, most commonly in patients over age 40. It’s often caused by elevated pressure in the eye. The earliest signs of glaucoma can be identified by looking at the optic nerve. The changes to the optic nerve that is indicative of glaucoma can frequently be seen years before vision loss occurs. So, regular eye exams are important to ensure that glaucoma is identified as early as possible.

For eye care into older age, visit The Eye Clinic of Florida.