8 Symptoms of Aging Eyes and How to Prevent Them

Common age-related eye problems include presbyopia, glaucoma, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and temporal arteritis. You should make sure to keep up with regular eye doctor appointments, especially if you have diabetes.

How does aging affect your eyes?

Age sometimes brings changes that weaken your vision and eyes, but you can do certain things to maintain lifelong eye and overall health. The solution may be as simple as using brighter lights around the house to help prevent accidents caused by weak eyesight or seeing your doctor more frequently to screen for age-related diseases.

Here are some of the common conditions aging eyes can develop.

1. Floaters

Floaters are specks or spots that appear in your field of vision. They are most noticeable outdoors on a sunny day or in other well-lit conditions. Floaters are normal and harmless, but they can also be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. This is most likely the case if floaters appear suddenly and dramatically. A sudden increase in the number of floaters you see is concerning, especially if they interfere with your daily routine. In any case, schedule an appointment with your optometrist.

2. Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a fairly common condition in which your ability to see small print or close objects begins to weaken. This type of vision impairment happens slowly throughout your life, and most people don’t notice any changes until around the age of 40. The condition is easy to correct with reading glasses and contact lenses.

3. Cataracts

Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop in the lens in the front of the eye. Normally, the lens of the eye is clear like a camera lens. Cataracts keep light from easily passing through the lens to the back of the eye (the retina), causing blurry vision. Cataracts usually form slowly, causing no pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. Some stay small and don’t alter eyesight. If they become large or thick and have a significant impact on vision, they can almost always be removed with surgery.

Cataract surgery is very safe and is one of the most common surgeries done in the United States and around the world. During surgery, the doctor takes out the clouded lens and, in most cases, puts in a clear plastic lens, restoring normal sight if the eye is otherwise healthy.

4. Tearing or Dry Eyes

Your eye ducts may begin producing too many tears, especially if you are sensitive to light, temperature changes, or wind. Wearing sunglasses may offer protection, however its always a good idea to see your eye doctor to rule out an underlying condition such as a blocked tear duct or an eye infection.

On the other end of the spectrum, you may notice that your eyes become much drier than usual. Dry eyes occur when your tear glands produce too few or low-quality tears. You may experience itching, burning, or red eyes. Using a humidifier at home as well as specific eye drops can help relieve symptoms and prevent rare complications such as vision loss.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is usually related to increased pressure inside the eye. If it isn’t treated, this condition can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness, often without symptoms. Risk factors for glaucoma include heredity, age, race, diabetes and some medications. Glaucoma is less commonly caused by other factors such as a blunt object or chemical injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blockage of blood vessels, inflammatory disorders of the eye, and occasionally by corrective eye surgery. Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from increased pressure.

To detect glaucoma, your provider will examine your eyes to assess the appearance of the optic nerve, measure the eye pressure and test the visual field. Some people can have damage to the eye from glaucoma, even with normal pressure in the eye. Treatment may include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment or surgery.

6. Corneal Disease

The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped area at the front of the eye that helps the eye focus light. Corneal disease or injury or exposure to harmful environmental agents can cause symptoms such as pain, watery eyes, redness, or reduced vision. You may need something as simple as new glasses, or you may require medicated eye drops or surgery to correct the problem.

7. Eyelid problems

Problems with your eyelids can happen with many different diseases or conditions. The eyelids protect the eye, distribute tears and limit the amount of light entering the eye. Pain, itching, tearing and sensitivity to light are common symptoms of eyelid problems. Other problems may include drooping eyelids (ptosis), blinking spasms (blepharospasm) or inflamed eyelids near the eyelashes (blepharitis). Eyelid problems often can be treated with medication or surgery.

8. Temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis causes the arteries in the temple area of the forehead, as well as other areas of the body, to become inflamed and possibly obstructed. It can begin with a severe headache, pain when chewing, and tenderness in the temple area. You may have a chronic fever, shoulder or hip weakness, and scalp tenderness. It may be followed by sudden vision loss, which is usually permanent. It’s more commonly diagnosed in elderly women. If you have any of these symptoms, see your healthcare provider immediately.

What aids are available to help with loss of vision?

If you have problems seeing despite wearing glasses, you may find low-vision aids helpful. These are special devices that are stronger than regular eyeglasses. Some people with only partial sight are able to increase their vision significantly by using these devices.

Low vision aids include:

• Telescopic glasses.
• Lenses that filter light.
• Magnifying glasses.
• Electronic devices that you can either hold in your hand or put directly on your reading material. E-Books, iPads® and similar electronic devices often can be adjusted to provide large dark fonts and are helpful for many patients with moderate impairments.

Care for Aging Eyes at Golden Eye Optometry

These are a few of the problems that can affect your aging eyes. If you notice anything unusual with your vision or your eyes, make an appointment at Golden Eye Optometry at once. Early intervention is vital to prevent a wide range of complications and vision problems. Even if you aren’t experiencing any changes, a regular eye exam can help detect potential problems before they get worse. Contact the eye specialists at Golden Eye Optometry today or fill out our convenient appointment request form.

Sources:

1. 6 Symptoms of Aging Eyes and How to Prevent Them Posted in Eye Health | October 25, 2018
2. Common Age-Related Eye Problems