As we age, our bodies go through natural changes. Those changes happen throughout our entire body, including our eyes and our vision. September is Healthy Aging Month, designated by the National Institute of Health as a time to be proactive in staying safe, independent and happy as you age. Your vision plays a big role in your health, and there are steps you can take to adapt to natural changes in your vision.
“A healthy person is someone who’s living their full life and doing everything they want,” says Amy Wurf, Vision Services Director with the Council. “You can still do that as your vision changes; you just need to be aware of accommodations and strategies you need to help you continue to do the things you love.”
One of the most common vision-related diagnoses people face as they age is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 50, AMD affects the central part of your vision. Other common age-related eye diseases are cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease. But your vision can change in ways outside of diagnosed diseases too. As you get older, your eyes may become less sensitive to contrast, especially in lower light. On the opposite end, older adults may be more sensitive to bright lights and glare. Another common issue as we age is difficulty reading small print. All of these are natural changes that happen as we age.
It is important to have regular eye exams as you age so that you can catch any changes in your vision and address them as soon as possible. Changes in your vision can most easily be addressed if caught early, and if left unaddressed may not be treatable and may cause permanent vision loss. Additionally, changes in your vision may indicate other serious health issues as well. Health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes can first be observed in the eyes before showing any other physical symptoms. People over the age of 65 should have a full, dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist once every one-to-two years, or as often as your insurance allows. If you notice any sudden changes to your vision, don’t wait until your next eye exam. Call your eye doctor right away if you notice any changes so that they can be promptly addressed. In addition to medical eye exams, vision rehabilitation therapy is also crucial in helping you stay healthy as you age. Vision rehabilitation therapy can guide you to make simple changes in your day-to-day life to help you stay healthy.
An important part of staying healthy with your vision as you age is having a proactive mindset to address issues before they begin to significantly impact your life. Evaluate the lighting around your home, especially in areas like your kitchen, where you read, and where you keep any prescription medication. Think about both the placement and type of lighting you use in these areas and adjust as needed. Sunglasses are great for going outside, but they can also help decrease glare inside. For indoor use, we recommend glasses with filters. If you struggle with small print, adjusting your lighting and using a magnifier or reading glasses can make that print more visible. When using your computer or smartphone, you can zoom in and increase font size to make your text more visible.
Even if you do not have a diagnosed eye disease, you can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider to use large print labels to make medication and important paperwork, like after-visit notes from your doctor, more visible. As you shop for things like kitchen supplies, consider contrast and visibility of the labels on your products. If you find that you are still struggling with your vision, consider reaching out to a vision rehabilitation specialist, like one at the Council, for additional assistance in getting the most out of your vision in your day-to-day life.
It’s easy to feel like you’re alone experiencing vision loss as you age. But changes in your vision are a natural part of life, and it’s important to remember that other people have experienced the same changes. With some adjustments, you can continue to live a healthy life no matter your age or level of vision loss. If you need guidance for adjusting to your changing vision, the Council may be able to help. You can find more information and contact our vision services team on our website at WCBlind.org/Vision-Services.