September is Healthy Aging month. It’s not uncommon for us to make it to our family doctor to address age related issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and aches and pains. But even our eyes begin to change as we grow older.
Age-Related Vision Changes
As you get older, you may realize and notice some changes in your vision. These changes may not necessarily be quick, but more gradual. These changes can affect how well you see on a normal basis and may lead to other symptoms. Here is a list of common changes you may see over time:
- Need for more light – brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other tasks easier
- Difficulty reading and doing close work – the lens in your eyes becomes less flexible with time, so focusing on near objects may be more difficult to do
- Problems with glare – changes within the lens in your eye cause light entering the eye to be scatter rather than focused precisely on the retina, causing more glare
- Changes in color perception – the normally clear lens in your eye may start to discolor making it harder to see and distinguish between color shades
- Reduced tear production – over time, the tear glands in your eyes will produce fewer tears, and your eyes may feel dry and irritated
Age-Related Eye Disorders
After you turn 60, there’s a big chance that you may develop an eye or vision disease that can change your vision permanently. We recommend that you do your part to have those problems detected and treated as early as possible so that you can retain good vision. We will list some vision problems that can occur so that you are fully aware:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Retinal detachment
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Dry eye
If you are close to the age of 60 and see some signs of those disorders, don’t wait to address the problem. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to reduce your risk of vision loss from eye disease. If you notice any of these changes in your vision and you want to learn about different ways to cope with these changes, make an appointment with us at www.danadavisioncenter.com.