Changes in adult vision after 40

Ageing is a natural process that affects all parts of the body, including the eyes, so it is important to take note of any changes in your eyesight no matter how slight and ensure you have a thorough eye examination every two years.

Eyesight problems can appear in seemingly healthy eyes, even if a person has never had glasses or eye health issues in the past, as ageing changes various parts of the eyes at different rates.

Symptoms will vary from person-to-person, but the most common age-related vision problems are:

Near vision problems

The most common complaint in eyes over 40 is difficulty with close work which impacts day-to-day tasks like reading the newspaper, text messages or food labels.

When small print becomes blurred and you find yourself holding objects at arm’s length in order to focus, you probably have Presbyopia. It’s age-related and unavoidable for most people.

Difficulty in low light

As the eye ages, it requires more incoming light to distinguish objects and text clearly, as over time the lens becomes more opaque resulting in a loss of luminosity.

This problem can become more apparent when in rooms where the level of light is uneven or dimmed.

Problems with glare

Eyes become more sensitive to glare with age when the lens becomes less transparent and light scatters inside the eye rather than landing directly on the retina.

This problem usually is more prominent when driving, both during the daytime (sun reflecting off the windshield) and at night (traffic lights, street lights and oncoming headlights).

Colour Changes in the Eye

The lens can develop a slight yellow tint over time which affects a person’s ability to distinguish colours, which can make it more difficult to identify various shades of colour.

Dry eyes

Tears are vital for keeping eyes moist and well lubricated, but tear glands in older eyes produce 40% less tears than normal which can lead to eyes becoming dry and irritated.

Be aware of your eye health

Eyes go through the greatest amount of change in the two decades after 40, with various parts of the eye being affected. It is important not to ignore any eye health issues or vision problems, especially if any of the following apply:

• Family history of cataracts, glaucoma or AMD

• Medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure

• Certain prescription medications that can adversely affect eye health

• Loss of peripheral vision

• Images appearing distorted

• Increase in floaters or sudden flashes of light

There are two excellent solutions available to effectively treat presbyopia and they are available at Optilase laser eye clinics.

Presbia and Kamra are two different types of optical inlay procedures, during which a microscopically thin lens is inserted into the cornea of one eye to allow clear close vision without any glasses.