Vision Loss in Seniors: Conditions, Symptoms and Management

Why Vision Changes with Age

Your eyesight changes with age because the internal structures alter over time. That affects vision clarity, contrast and how fast you process images.

You may experience the following:

• Decreased tear production: Tears keep the surface of your eyes smooth. Your tear glands produce fewer tears as you get older, leaving you with an itchy or burning sensation.
• Protein degeneration: The proteins in the lens of your eye can clump together, creating hazy vision and reduced contrast.
• Vitreous fluid reduction: The gel-like substance inside your eye can thin. That could lead to mild vision distortion and floaters.
• Lens inflexibility: As the lens of your eye starts to stiffen, you could struggle to focus on close objects.

The connection between your eyes and brain also alters with age, affecting your ability to process what you see. That could present as slow reactions to visual stimuli, issues with depth perceptions and an inability to track moving objects.

Types of Vision Issues in Seniors

Glaucoma: This progressive disorder damages your optic nerve, resulting in peripheral vision loss or complete blindness. It can develop with few warning signs until you’ve sustained significant damage. Symptoms include patchy side vision, eye pain, halos around lights and nearsightedness.

Cataracts: These cloudy areas appear on the eye lens and are caused by the degeneration of crystallin proteins. You may notice blurred vision, sensitivity to light and difficulty seeing at night.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): This condition affects the nervous tissue in the back of your eyes, resulting in a loss of central vision. AMD is typically caused by aging, genetics, smoking and high blood pressure.

Diabetic retinopathy: Unregulated high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in your eyes, which can cause swelling. If you develop this condition, you could experience color blindness, eye floaters, distorted vision and blind spots.

Presbyopia: Also known as age-related farsightedness, presbyopia is characterized by an inability to see objects close to your eyes. It’s common to develop this condition after 40, and you may experience blurry vision, headaches and eye strain.

Dry eye: Your body may not produce enough tears to cover and protect the surface of your eye. That could be caused by a tear duct blockage, medication use, hormonal changes and environmental factors.

How Vision Loss Can Impact Quality of Life

Senior vision loss can change how you feel about your quality of life. When it comes to physical risks, poor eyesight and blindness increase your risk of falls, which could result in more frequent injuries. You may also struggle to complete daily tasks, like driving, and face a decrease in your independence. Those changes could influence your self-esteem and cause you to withdraw due to a loss of confidence. That puts you at risk of isolation, anxiety and depression.

Managing Vision Loss in Seniors

Prescription eyewear: Wearing up-to-date prescription glasses or contact lenses can correct near- and farsightedness. Specialty lenses can also reduce glare, improve contrast and support progressive vision changes.

Preventive care: It’s crucial to schedule an annual eye exam even if you aren’t experiencing issues. Many vision conditions don’t present symptoms until they’ve advanced, so preventive screenings can help your eye doctor address issues early.

Medication management: Anti-inflammatory and lubricating eyedrops can relieve dry eye symptoms. You may also need to adjust other medications if they affect your vision.

Surgical treatments: Depending on the severity of your condition, you may qualify for laser procedures to treat glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinal issues. Cataract surgery can also alleviate the cloudiness in your lenses.

Assistive products: Handheld and electronic magnifying tools can make it easier to read, making daily tasks less frustrating. You can also adjust the text size and contrast on digital devices if you have low vision.

Eye-healthy diet: Vitamins A, C and E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids support eye health. You can get those nutrients from dark, leafy greens, citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, fatty fish and legumes.

Eye protection: Wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat in the sun helps protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.

Supporting Senior Vision Health and Wellness

Embassy Healthcare offers coordination services to ensure residents have access to vision care and transportation assistance. Our assisted living communities also include personalized support to help those with vision issues. Contact us to schedule a tour at one of our locations in Ohio, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.