Aging causes various changes in many parts of your body, including your eyes. In middle age, your eye’s lens becomes less flexible. It is also less able to thicken, which makes it less able to focus on nearby objects. This is what eye doctors call presbyopia.

Corrective lenses can help compensate for this problem. However, you still need to learn about the possible effects of aging on your eyes.

Is Vision Loss Inevitable As You Age?

According to a recent survey, two out of three people in the U.S. believe that vision loss is unavoidable as you age. Of course, aging can affect your eyes. However, vision loss is far from the norm. Therefore, you need to learn about the best ways to protect your eyes and vision as you age. 

How Aging Can Affect Your Eyes

Sometimes, aging brings changes that can weaken your eyes and vision. Fortunately, you can take certain steps to maintain lifelong eye health. Your solution may be as simple as undergoing routine eye exams and using brighter lights to help prevent accidents. Some of the common age-related eye problems to watch out for include:

Difficulty Reading Fine Print

Presbyopia, or farsightedness, is more common in people over the age of 40. This vision problem can make it difficult to perform up-close activities, such as sewing and reading. Fortunately, prescription eyewear can help overcome such challenges.

Dry Eyes

As people age, they tend to produce fewer tears. This problem can cause an uncomfortable eye condition known as dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes are more common in women than in men. This is especially true for women going through menopause. Depending on the severity of your condition, your eye doctor will recommend the appropriate and most effective treatment for you.

Difficulty Seeing at Night 

You may notice that your eyes take longer to focus and adjust in the dark than they used to as you age. According to studies, the eye’s rod cells tend to weaken with age. These cells are responsible for low light vision. That is why older individuals tend to have a difficult time driving at night.

Swollen, Red Eyelids

Inflammation of the eyelids known as blepharitis becomes more common as people age. This problem is due to hormonal change. Some of the symptoms of this condition include swollen or red eyes, soreness, and a crusty sensation around one’s eyelashes. 

Objects Blend Into Backgrounds

You may find it difficult to distinguish objects from similarly colored backgrounds as you age. For example, you might find it hard to see milk in a white cup. Eye care professionals refer to this problem as a loss of contrast sensitivity. Fortunately, there are simple ways to overcome this problem, such as using different colors around the house. 

Other ways in which aging can affect your eyes include:

 

• Seeing floaters or spots in your vision
   

• Glaucoma
   

• Glare sensitivity
   

• Seeing flashes of light in your vision
   

• Age-related macular degeneration
  
   

For more on the effects of aging on your eyes, visit Clarity Vision at our offices in Williamston, North Carolina. You can call (252) 792-2250 today to schedule an appointment.