7 Common Age-Related Vision Problems

If you've noticed that it's harder to read a menu in a dimly lit restaurant or you find yourself holding your book or newspaper farther away from your face to see the text, it's likely the print isn't getting any smaller — you're just getting older. For those who are over 40 and experiencing some type of vision issue, you're not alone: 4.2 million Americans experience low vision problems and blindness due to age-related eye disease.¹

The good news is that there are steps you can take to manage your vision health as you age. Learn more below about the most common vision changes that come with aging eyes, including what's normal and what's not.

1. Eye Floaters

Eye floaters are those random specks or squiggly lines in vision that look like cobwebs. Floaters are a normal part of aging, but the onset of many new floaters at once or floaters that come with flashes of light is not normal and could signal a detached retina — a serious eye problem that requires immediate medical attention.²

2. Dry Eye

Dry eye is another normal vision change that's associated with aging. As we get older, our tear gland production slows down, so our eyes often don't produce enough tears. It can also make your eyes more sensitive to light and wind.²

Signs of dry eye include:²

• Itching
• Burning
• Some vision loss
• Excess tearing due to irritation

Using eye drops and wearing sunglasses can help manage dry eye.²

3. Presbyopia

Presbyopia is one of the most common vision changes associated with aging and is usually not a cause for concern. After age 40, many adults have more difficulty focusing on nearby objects than they used to. This can include activities like reading and performing close-up tasks, such as sewing.³

This change in vision is due to the lens of the eye becoming less flexible as you get older. Presbyopia due to aging eyes will progress until around age 60, when the condition generally stabilizes.³

Initial signs of presbyopia can include:²

• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Tired eyes

Treatment for presbyopia generally involves:³

• Wearing reading glasses or bifocals
• Wearing multifocal contact lenses
• Using prescription eye drops
• Undergoing laser eye surgery

4. Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the tissue in the clear lens of the eye starts to break down, creating small cloudy areas within the lens, resulting in blurry or dimmed vision. That's because cataracts block light from getting to the retina, located in the back of the eye.²

Cataracts are a common vision problem in people over the age of 40, and nearly half of Americans over age 75 have cataracts.⁴ In many cases, a stronger eyeglass prescription or cataract surgery can help manage cataracts if they become large and significantly affect your sight.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when your optic nerve becomes damaged and incapable of properly transmitting images to your brain.³ This condition is caused by a buildup of pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve, leading to peripheral vision loss and total blindness if left untreated.⁵

6. Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central part of the retina known as the macula. Over time, the macula gets thinner with age, making tasks like reading small print much more difficult in the early stages of the disease.⁶

Initially, as part of the early signs of AMD, you may see:⁷

• Only parts of letters while reading
• Straight lines that appear wavy

As the disease progresses, it can lead to:⁷

• Trouble reading in low light conditions
• Hazy vision
• Problems recognizing faces
• Colors appearing washed out

Those with dry-type AMD will experience much more gradual vision loss than those with wet-type AMD, which causes sudden vision loss due to leaking blood vessels surrounding the retina. If your vision is suddenly blocked by a large black spot, it could indicate wet-type AMD, which requires immediate medical attention.⁷

7. Diabetic Retinopathy

For those with diabetes that is not properly controlled, it can lead to diabetic retinopathy. This disease occurs when blood vessels stop feeding the retina properly and start to bleed or leak fluid.²

In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you may not have any symptoms or you may experience blurred vision.

Over time, in the later stages, the disease can cause:²

• Floaters
• Cloudiness
• Blind spots

Without treatment, new blood vessels may grow and bleed within the retina, leading to severe vision loss and blindness. Drug injections and laser treatment can help decrease swelling and preserve vision in the early stages of the disease; laser treatment may help prevent blindness as the disease progresses.²

Financing Eye Exams With the CareCredit Credit Card

Regular eye exams are an important part of your eye health. Whether you're getting an eye exam or needing eye surgery, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for care where your insurance leaves off.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a vision specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 18 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care, and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy, and more.