Common age-related eye problems and possible treatments
Just like the rest of our bodies, our eyes go through physical changes as we get older. Knowing what’s normal and what might need a doctor's attention can be a great tool for proactive care. Here are a few of the most common eye conditions you might come across:
Presbyopia
Description: You’ve probably seen older friends or family members reaching for a pair of reading glasses, or maybe you’re doing so yourself. This is because beginning around age 40, the lens inside the eye becomes less flexible, which makes it difficult to focus on close objects, like text on a smartphone or in a book.
Typical onset: Around age 40
Possible treatments: Reading glasses, multifocal contacts lenses, laser eye surgery
See More About Presbyopia
Dry eye
Description: As we age, our eyes often produce fewer tears and oils, which may lead to a stinging, burning, or gritty sensation. This is especially common in women experiencing hormonal changes during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.
Typical onset: Risk increases as you age, also common in menopausal women
Possible treatments: Eye drops or in-office procedures
Cataracts
Description: Proteins in the natural lens in your eyes can break down or clump together, causing cloudy, blurry, or hazy vision. Most people develop cataracts to some degree as they age.
Typical onset: Around age 60, people tend to start to have some clouding of their lenses
Possible treatment: Cataracts can typically be safely removed with surgery when they begin to interfere with daily life. In fact, cataract surgery is the most common type of surgery, and is also one of the safest surgeries you can have.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Description: AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in seniors. To explain what a macula is, if your eye was a camera, the retina would be the film in the camera. The macula is the center part of that film—responsible for sharp central vision. As "degeneration" suggests, AMD is the breakdown of the macula. Symptoms include blurred or distorted central vision, seeing straight lines as wavy, and in the more advanced stages, difficulty recognizing faces.
Typical onset: Mostly occurs in people over 50
Possible treatments: While there’s no cure, there are treatments that can slow the progression of the degeneration, including nutritional supplements, medications, and other therapies.
Glaucoma
Description: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to your optic nerve because of increased pressure within your eye. To explain, the optic nerve can be thought of as the “cable” that connects your eye to the different parts of the brain where vision is processed, so when glaucoma occurs, it can cause gradual but permanent loss of peripheral vision. If left untreated, it may even lead to complete vision loss and blindness.
Typical onset: Risk increases after age 40
Possible treatments: Eye drops to lower the pressure inside the eye
