Just as aging affects the body, it also affects the vision. Some age-related changes can be expected, while other changes may be indicative of a more serious problem. Here is what you need to know about your changing vision.
How Often Should You Get An Eye Exam?
It's good idea to get an exam when you turn 40. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 40 is a good age for a baseline exam as this around the time age-related vision problems arise. If you're beyond 40, no worries, just schedule an exam as soon as possible. After examining your eyes, the ophthalmologist will be able to recommend how often you should come back, which may be semi-annually, annually, or biannually depending on your unique issues.
What Are Some Common Age-Related Problems?
Farsighted
Medically referred to as presbyopia, this is the inability to read up close or read fine print. Even if you have never worn glasses or had any eye issues in the past, most people can expect to develop presbyopia eventually. If you find yourself constantly adjusting your newspaper or book, trying to find the right distance that you can see the words on the paper, you likely have presbyopia. This is easily fixed with a pair of reading glasses, or if you currently wear glasses, it may require switching to bifocals, enabling you to see both distant and up close. Presbyopia is also responsible for temporarily blurring your vision when shifting your focus from long-distance to close-up. It takes the aging eyes longer to focus.
Tearing
Sudden tearing in the eyes can be caused by too much sunlight. Strong winds can also cause tearing as they become dry. It is also common to have excess tearing near the end of the day, when both you and your eyes are tired. Some people look as though they are crying when this happens. If you are dehydrated, your body will also produce excess tears to keep your eyes lubricated. While this isn't usually anything serious, mention it to your eye doctor; he may prescribe eye drops and will rule out another cause, such as an infected tear duct.
Floaters
Especially visible in bright daylight, floaters are little specks of "dust" that pass over the field of vision. This is a normal part of aging; however, if you experience a sudden increase of floaters, see your doctor immediately as this can be a sign of retinal detachment.
For more information, talk to an eye doctor at a location like Advanced Eye Care & Surgery Center.
Share29 December 2016
When was the last time you went to an optometrist? If you are like most people, you only go when your glasses break or you run out of contact lenses. Very few people actually follow the guidelines of having their eyes checked each year. Not sure why it is necessary to visit your optometrist each year? You can learn all about the different exams and tests that your optometrist runs and why they are done. Knowing what can go wrong with your eyes and what can be done if the ailments are detected early could help to encourage you to get to the optometrist more often.
