8 Common Eye Concerns for Adults 40+
It’s important to understand how your eyes change with age and what you can do to keep them as healthy as possible. Here are eight common eye conditions and diseases to be aware of, but don’t wait until you have symptoms to see an ophthalmologist. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends all adults have a comprehensive eye exam by age 40.
Presbyopia
The lens in your eye loses flexibility, making it difficult to read up close.
Dry Eye
Certain medications and hormonal changes cause changes in the eye’s tear production. Dry eye may lead to blepharitis, a common cause of irritation or swelling of the eyelids.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels inside the retina swell, leak fluid or close off completely due to elevated blood sugar levels.
Cataracts
As you age, proteins in your lens begin to clump together. These clumps, known as cataracts, make the lens less transparent and cause blurry, cloudy or dim vision and increased glare.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which transmits visual information to the brain, often leading to the loss of side vision. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Floaters
The fluid that fills the inside of your eye starts to shrink as you age, forming clumps or strands, which can appear as small specks or lines moving in your field of vision.
Flashes
The fluid that fills the inside of your eye can pull away from the back wall of your eye, causing you to see flashing lights or lightning streaks in your vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD affects the central vision, limiting your ability to read and recognize faces. This can be caused by the thinning of the macula or by a growth of blood vessels under the retina. If left untreated, AMS can lead to blindness.
Adapted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology