A lot of the things we do take a toll on our eyes. Whether you stare at a screen for work or head out into the sun on the weekend, your daily activities could be increasing your risk for eye strain and vision problems.
And that gets truer as we get older. Aging vision means changing vision — and not usually for the better. As the years tick by, it’s common to have problems seeing things up close, distinguishing between colors and more.
A lot of the problems you might encounter with aging eyes stem from specific conditions. Here are six to keep on your radar. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the eye conditions that can arise with aging vision, but it’s a good place to start.
Presbyopia
That’s a fancy way of saying age-related farsightedness. If you find yourself squinting at menus or turning up the brightness to try and read texts on your phone, you might have presbyopia.
And you’re not alone. After age 40, nearly every person will deal with some level of aging vision caused by presbyopia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately, you have plenty of options for correcting this nearsightedness, from eyeglasses and contacts to surgical solutions. Talk with your eye doctor. They can recommend a treatment to keep you seeing clearly even with aging eyes.
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration affects your central vision but leaves your peripheral vision unchanged. It’s a leading cause of vision problems, including vision loss, in people over 50, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology. You get AMD when your macula, a key part of your retina, changes.
Most people get dry AMD, which causes you to lose your central vision slowly over time. You can check for this issue at home by looking at an Amsler grid once daily.
If you notice any vision problems as you look at the grid, talk with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Modifying your diet and taking supplements can help to slow the progression of AMD.
