Like the rest of our body, our eyes and vision change over our lifetime. Here are the most common vision changes as we age.
July 18, 2024
Written by
Katherine Solem
Expert review by
Siddarth Rathi, MD
Like the rest of our body, our eyes and vision change over our lifetime. Here are the most common vision changes as we age.
July 18, 2024
Written by
Katherine Solem
Expert review by
Siddarth Rathi, MD
As we get older, our bodies are constantly changing. Some changes are quite obvious, like growing taller, our feet getting bigger, or our hair turning gray. Other changes can be more subtle, like our eyes changing.
Like the rest of our body, our eyes and vision change over our lifetime. Here are the most common vision changes as we age.
While your mind might still feel a decade or two younger, your eyes tell you differently.
For many, the change happens in their early to mid-40s. Others may escape it until their early 60s, at the latest. But pretty much everyone will need reading glasses eventually.
Why? As we age, the lens in the eye and the muscles controlling it harden and become less flexible. This makes it more difficult for the eyes to adjust for sharp vision, especially up close. It’s called presbyopia.
The fix? A pair of reading glasses. Or, if you already have other vision-correcting lenses, multifocal lenses, including progressives, might be in store. (Note: Multifocals are available in both eyeglasses and contact lenses.) Another option is monovision lenses. This is where the lens in one eye helps you see objects up close, while the lens in the other eye helps you see objects at a distance. Your brain learns to use each eye for its special vision. However, the trade-off is that you lose good depth perception.
Needing reading glasses is usually the first sign of aging eyes. But as you inch toward your mid-50s and beyond, other signs of normal aging may pop up, like:
These are usually normal vision changes that occur with age. However, make sure to keep up with regular eye exams. Also, see your eye doctor about any sudden or bothersome changes in vision.
Other issues that can happen in the second half of life include the following.
As we age, the tear film, or layers in the eye that keep it moist, doesn’t work as well. Women are particularly prone to dry eye. That’s because menopause also leads to an overall decrease in secretions in women’s bodies, including in the tear film. Contact your eye doctor if you notice signs of dry eye.
This is a clouding of the lens that makes it difficult to see. Doctors don’t know exactly why it happens. For some, it can happen as early as their mid-50s. For others, it may not appear until their 90s. Cataracts are treated with quick and relatively common eye surgery. In this procedure, the cataract is removed, and a new lens is put in.
Droopy eyelid, or ptosis, happens when the upper eyelid sags over the eye. It can droop a little or so much so that it covers the pupil and interferes with vision. In older adults, it usually happens because the muscles that hold the eyelid in place don’t work well anymore. Eye surgery or eye drops can treat droopy eyelid.
Several other eye diseases occur more frequently after the age of 55. These include:
Taking good care of your body and eyes as you age can prevent or delay some vision problems.
Just like going to your primary care doctor or dentist, regular eye checkups allow your eye doctor to monitor for changes in your vision and catch problems early when chances for good outcomes are best.
Here’s how often the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends you get your eyes checked:
