The Aging Eye
Adults in certain age brackets require more frequent eye care. Our eyes undergo many changes, starting from our mid to late 40s, that need specialized attention. From changes in our vision to an increased risk of eye disease, annual eye exams will allow your optometrist to keep a close eye on your vision and treat any conditions before they affect your quality of life.
Common age-related visual changes include:
Changes in colour vision:
As we age, the cells in our eyes that control our colour vision become less sensitive. This means the colours we see are less vibrant and can lead to difficulty distinguishing between them.
Difficulty adjusting to changing light levels:
You know how it may take a minute or 2 for your eyes to adjust when you move from a dark room to the bright, sunny outdoors (or vice versa)? This process can take 2 to 3 times longer for older adults than younger adults.
Changes in quality and quantity of tears:
Age affects several areas of the eyes responsible for producing our tears. As we get older and the tear glands produce fewer tears, we may experience dry eyes, blurry vision, eye fatigue, and headaches.
A requirement for more light:
Our pupils become less responsive to light as we age, meaning we need more light than we did when we were younger to see clearly. Good lighting will help to prevent falls.
A need for reading glasses:
Presbyopia occurs when the eye’s lens becomes inflexible. The lens changes its shape to focus at various distances, so it can’t focus on nearby objects when it loses its flexibility. Proper eyeglasses or contact lenses can manage presbyopia, which can also help prevent eye strain.
An increased risk for ocular diseases:
Changes to the eyes that come with age also increase our risk of developing diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Age-related eye diseases are some of the leading causes of blindness in Canada.
