Why does sight deteriorate with age

A child needs many abilities to succeed in school and good vision is key. Forgot username or password? You do not have access to this content. Join the AOA today! Eye Health for Life. Middle-aged adults will begin to notice slight changes in their vision which can progress over time. Adults over 40 who have the following health or work issues may be particularly at risk for developing eye and vision problems: Chronic, systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

A family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration. A highly visually demanding job or work in an eye-hazardous occupation. Health conditions related to high cholesterol, thyroid, anxiety or depression, and arthritis for which you take medications. Many medications, even antihistamines, have vision side effects.

Understanding age-related vision changes Just like your body, your eyes and vision change over time. While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, the following are common age-related vision changes: Need for more light.

As you age, you need more light to see as well as you used to. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other close-up tasks easier.

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. 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 in your lenses in your eyes cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina. This creates more glare. 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.

Reduced tear production. With age, the tear glands in your eyes will 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. Encountering problems with near vision after 40 If you have never needed eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision, then experiencing near vision problems after age 40 can be concerning and frustrating.

They include: Eyeglasses, including reading glasses, bifocals, and progressive lenses. A small blurred area near the center of your vision. This can be a sign of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes damage to the retina. Decreased peripheral vision. It could indicate glaucoma, a disease that damages your optic nerve. Small spots or threads in your field of vision known as floaters are actually protein that forms between the lens and retina. Please return to AARP.

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Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. Now Reading:. Membership My Account. Rewards for Good. Squinting a little more to read labels or catch that email on your phone? According to the National Eye Institute, some changes are normal, some may be cause for concern.

And, stay on schedule for regular dilated eye exams—every two or three years after age Actual vision loss , is not a normal part of aging. But the risk everyone faces is that as you age, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye conditions and diseases. Find it challenging to distinguish colors, such as blue from black, or to see where an object ends and its background begins.

Need more light to see well and more time to adjust to a leaving a dark room and going into a brightly lit room.