As we age our entire body undergoes gradual changes that become more and more noticeable once we hit our 40’s. Although some of these changes are not highly noticeable, your eyes can change quite drastically. Here is how your eyes change with age:
Reading
It seems to become impossible to read without holding books, labels and just about anything at arm’s length as you reach your 40’s. The reason for this is that you lose your ability to focus up close. There is an actual name for this frustrating problem, and it is Presbyopia. Eye exams will help you adjust your current lens prescription or get a prescription for your first pair of glasses so you can read safely without stressing your eyes.
Dry Eyes
Another uncomfortable change is dry eyes. For some this can be eased with the use of artificial tears, simply go to your local drug store and look for them in the eye care aisle. They will keep your eyes comfortable and help keep your eyes healthy. If it seems the irritation and dryness cannot be resolved with eye drops, speak to your eye doctor, they can check for additional issues due to an underlying problem.
Diabetic Issues
If you have diabetes you can run into additional problems with your eyes. In fact, diabetics can experience changes to their vision on a daily basis. High blood sugar levels can change the blood vessels in your eyes leading to damage that will affect your vision. Eye exams will not only address such an issue, but will also help discover diabetes if you are unaware you have it.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve in your eye. Often people without vision issues who are over 60 have glaucoma without realizing. Eye exams will help your doctor discover glaucoma and prescribe medication to help ensure you will not lose your vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts are another eye condition that can develop with age. If you have a filmy look over everything you see, or seem to see a halo effect this is a sign of cataracts. Cataracts form as the lens of your eye starts to create clumps of protein. Regular eye exams will screen for these, and your optician can determine if you require new lenses or in some cases cataract surgery.
Regular eye exams will help your eye doctor find any issues you are experiencing. From an increase in headaches to the need for bifocals your age related vision issues can be resolved with the help of your eye doctor.