How Your Vision can change with Age

Just like our bodies, our eyes have different needs as we age and several common eye problems can occur. Presbyopia and cataracts are a normal, natural part of our eyes’ ageing process.

 

What is Presbyopia?

• Before the age of 40, the eye’s lens is soft and flexible, readily changing shape to see images from different distances. With age, the natural lens in your eye hardens and loses elasticity. With this loss of flexibility, your eyes are less able to adjust properly to focus upon near objects. So reading, using a mobile phone or working on the computer becomes difficult. It is not a disease or illness; but it usually affects everyone during the natural ageing process.

 

What are cataracts?

• Most age-related cataracts develop gradually. In the early stages you may not notice changes in your vision right away when there is good lighting but may experience difficulty driving at night or with vision in dim light conditions. Certain factors can accelerate the appearance and progression of cataracts these include:
  • smoking
  • prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
  • various diseases

 

These symptoms may also be a sign of other eye conditions. If you have any of these symptoms, please check with your ophthalmologist.