When we’re born, our eyes spend a couple of years rapidly developing before our vision stabilises. Yet our eyes continue to develop as adults, with significant changes in vision occurring from middle age onwards.
Our eyes become slightly less responsive around the age of forty as their lenses become less flexible, making it harder to focus. This is a condition known as presbyopia, and it’s often characterised by needing reading glasses, or struggling to read close-up text. Everyone experiences presbyopia to a degree, though regular eye tests are vital to ensure it’s developing at a normal rate.
In our sixties, we face a greater risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma and/or age related macular degeneration (AMD). These are the three biggest risks to vision in later life. Exposure to UV light can increase the risks of cataracts and AMD, while a healthy diet and plentiful exercise reduces the likelihood of developing any of these diseases.
Certain conditions can be triggered by specific risk factors, with some long-term medications or high blood pressure potentially leading to glaucoma or macula problems.
Optic nerve damage occurs if the build-up of pressure inside the eye isn’t treated, yet glaucoma is painless and often hard to self-diagnose. It’s more likely in patients with underlying health issues like diabetes or people who are short-sighted (Myopic), while it may also be hereditary.
It's important to schedule regular eye tests at any age, but especially so as we get older. This is the stage in life when conditions such as age-related macular degeneration are most likely to happen, and rapid identification is key to us making a successful diagnosis.
It also ensures we can equip patients with the knowledge to make lifestyle changes or pay close attention to changes in their vision.
Our trained optometrists can perform specialist tests for age-related eye conditions. By monitoring your eye health over time and intervening if new conditions emerge, we can help minimise (or even halt) any further sight loss.