It is a popular belief that eye problems come with aging. On the other hand, you may be at risk for developing eye problems at any age.
For example, if the following conditions already exist, there might be more of a particular risk for developing eye problems:
- Conditions of health including arthritis, depression, anxiety, thyroid conditions and high cholesterol for which you are already taking medications. There are ocular side effects for many medications, including anti-allergy medications.
- Working in an occupation hazardous to your eyes and in a job that is high visually demanding may also cause you to develop eye problems compared to jobs that are not as demanding visually.
- Macular degeneration and a history of glaucoma in the family.
- High blood pressure and other conditions of health such as diabetes.
Other Issues
Increase in eye health problems happening no matter what age you are is something that occurs aside from just presbyopia. Whether you need eyeglasses or not, adults need to be checked for signs of vision and eye problems. At any age, it is a good idea to go through comprehensive eye exams every 2 years. It is not a good idea to be reliant on limited vision tests that you go through when you get your driver’s license or screening for vision if you note any changes in your vision at the moment.
Eyesight Changes Over Time
When over time, you notice that your vision has changed, you will also notice that the way you see will change. As a matter of fact, no matter what part of the eye you notice changes in your vision, this results in differences in your ability to see. While there are different symptoms experienced by everyone, here are age related changes in vision that may affect you:
Reduced Production of Tears
Tear glands tend to produce fewer tears with age. For women after menopause, this is particularly true. Because of this, your eyes might feel more irritated than usual. Having a normal amount of tears is important to eye health.
Color Perception
Certain shades of colors might be harder to distinguish when you turn forty and above. This is due to the fact that the normal clear lens located within your eye might begin discoloration.
Glare Issues
You might notice that windshield reflections of the sun or headlight glare seems to be worse these days. This makes driving harder than it used to be. Within your eyes’ lens, changes in the way light enters will cause light to scatter, which will make everything seem to have more glare than usual.
Close Work and Reading Difficulty
Materials in print won’t be as clear as they used to be. This is mainly due to the fact that your eyes’ lenses develop more flexibility over time. This makes it hard for your vision to focus on objects nearby compared to the way you were able to when you were younger.
More Light Needed
When you turn forty and above, you will need more light to be able to see the same things as you did in the past. In your work area, brighter lights on your desk or beside your reading chair will make nearby tasks a lot easier and will make it easier to read.
