In addition to being at risk for vision changes, adults of all ages also experience an ever-increasing risk for various eye diseases. The conditions we see most commonly include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and cataracts. With early detection and prompt treatment, most of these diseases can be managed or even reversed. While we work with patients to support their aging eyes as health relates to eye diseases, we also need to observe how vision can change in more benign ways.
How Vision may Change with Age
Some of the changes you may notice as your eyes age include:
- You need more light to see clearly. Many people, as they get older, place brighter lightbulbs in lamps and lights they use most often.
- You are sensitive to glare. This usually happens when driving at night, when oncoming lights produce a large halo or glare, or simply seem too bright. This can be managed by wearing polarized glasses for night-driving.
- Labels are hard to read. As we age, the lens of the eye becomes more rigid. Without sufficient movement, the lens cannot bend light as well as it once did, which results in difficulty reading fine print or even print in books and magazines.
- Colors seem dull. Because this change occurs gradually, resulting from discoloration of the eye’s lens, many people don’t notice that colors do not seem as vibrant as they once did. This may also be one of the reasons people need more light to see well as they age.
- Increased dry eye symptoms. The risk of dry eye syndrome increases with age as changes in the tear film may occur. This problem can be managed with lubricating eye drops or professional treatment that improves the quality of tear production.
We are proud to provide friendly, professional eye care services in Winchester, VA. To schedule your annual eye exam, call 540-722-6200.
