fbpx

Adult Vision: 41 to 60 Years of Age

by | Jun 4, 2018 | Eyecare Tips | 115 comments

adult vision

If you are over 40 years of age, you’ve probably noticed changes in your vision. Difficulty seeing clearly for reading and close work is among the most common problems adults develop between ages 41 to 60. However, this is also the time when other changes in your eyes can start to affect your work and enjoyment of life.

Beginning in the early to mid-forties, most adults may start to experience problems with

Many people in middle age begin to experience difficulty with their vision.

Many people in middle age begin to experience difficulty with their vision.

their ability to see clearly at close distances, especially for reading and computer tasks. This normal aging change in the eye’s focusing ability, called presbyopia, will continue to progress over time.

Initially, you may find you need to hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly. Print in the newspaper or on a restaurant menu may appear blurred, especially under dim lighting. If you already wear prescription glasses or contact lenses to see clearly in the distance, the near vision changes caused by presbyopia can bring about the need to use bifocal or multifocal lenses. If you are nearsighted, you may have discovered that you now need to remove you glasses to see better up close. Fortunately, people with presbyopia now have many options to improve their ability to see well.

Along with the onset of presbyopia, an increase in the incidence of eye health problems occurs during these years. Whether or not there is a need for eyeglasses, adults should be examined for signs of developing eye and vision problems. A comprehensive eye examination is recommended at least every two years. Don’t rely on an insufficient substitute like the limited driver’s license vision test or other vision screenings to determine if you have an eye or vision problem.

Adults over 40 may be particularly at risk for the development of eye and vision problems if any of the following exist:

  • Chronic, systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
  • A family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration.
  • A highly visually demanding job or work in an eye-hazardous occupation.
  • Health conditions like high cholesterol, thyroid conditions, anxiety or depression, and arthritis for which you take medications. Many medications, even antihistamines, have ocular side-effects.

Understanding Age-related Vision Changes

Just like your body, your eyes and vision change over time. Aging changes in various parts of the eye can result in a number of noticeable differences in how well you see. While not everyone will experience the same level of symptoms, the following are common age-related vision changes:

  • Need for More Light

As you age, you need more light to see as well as you did in years past. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other near tasks easier.

  • Difficulty Reading and Doing Close Work

Printed materials are not as clear as before, in part because the lens in your eye becomes less flexible with time. This makes it harder for your eyes to focus near objects with the same ability you had when you were younger.

  • Problems with Glare

You may notice additional glare from headlights at night or sun reflecting off of windshields or pavement during the day, making it more difficult to drive. Changes within the lens in your eye cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina, thus creating more glare.

  • Changes in Color Perception

The normally clear lens located inside your eye may start to discolor making it harder to see and distinguish between certain shades of colors.

  • Reduced Tear Production

With age, the tear glands in your eyes will produce fewer tears. This is particularly true for women after menopause. As a result, your eyes may feel dry and irritated. Having an adequate amount of tears is an essential element in keeping your eyes healthy and maintaining clear sight.

Encountering Problems with Near Vision after 40

If you have enjoyed relatively good vision throughout your life and haven’t needed eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision, then the development of near vision problems after age 40 can be somewhat of a concern and a frustration. Losing the ability to read the newspaper or see the cell phone numbers may seem to have occurred abruptly. Actually, these changes have been occurring gradually since childhood. But up until now, your eyes have had adequate focusing power to allow you to see clearly for reading and close work. Now your eyes no longer have enough focusing power for clear and comfortable near vision tasks.

This loss of focusing ability for near vision, called presbyopia, is simply the result of the

Persons with presbyopia have several options available to regain clear near vision.

Persons with presbyopia have several options available to regain clear near vision.

lens inside the eye becoming less flexible. This flexibility allows the eye to change focus from objects are far to objects that are close. Persons with presbyopia have several options available to regain clear near vision. They include:

  • Eyeglasses, including single vision reading glasses and multifocal lenses
  • Contact lenses, including monovision and bifocal lenses
  • Laser surgery and other refractive surgery procedures

As you continue to age through your 50s and beyond, presbyopia becomes more advanced. You may notice the need for more frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. Around age 60, these changes in near vision should stop and prescription changes should occur less frequently.

Presbyopia can’t be prevented or cured, but many options are available to help compensate for the loss of near focusing ability. Most individuals should be able to obtain clear, comfortable near vision for all of their lifestyle needs.

 

Warning Signs of Eye Health Problems

This is also the time in life when your risk for developing a number of eye and vision problems increases. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have the early warning signs of a serious eye health problem:

  • Fluctuating Vision

If you experience frequent changes in how clearly you can see, it may be a sign of diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure). These chronic conditions can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye, causing vision loss that can sometimes be permanent.

  • Seeing Floaters and Flashes

Occasionally, you may see spots or floaters in your eyes. In most cases, these are actually shadowy images of particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Although they can be bothersome, spots and floaters are usually harmless and typically do not risk vision. They are a natural part of the eye’s aging process. But if you suddenly see more floaters than normal, and they are accompanied by bright, flashing lights, they may be a warning sign of impending retinal detachment—a tear of the retina. Treat Retinal Detachment immediately to avoid serious vision loss!

  • Loss of Side Vision

If it seems that you are losing peripheral or side vision, this may be a sign of glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged and no longer transmits all visual images to the brain. It often has no symptoms until damage to sections of your vision has begun. (Link to glaucoma)

  • Seeing Distorted Images

    If straight lines appear distorted or wavy or there appears to be a blind spot or empty area in the center of your vision, you may have the signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The disease affects the macula, the part of your retina that is responsible for central vision where the eye’s acuity is sharpest. The disease causes a blind spot that’s right in the middle of your field of vision. (Link to age-related macular degeneration)

Regular eye examinations and early diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases can help you continue to preserve good vision throughout life.

source: “Adult Vision 41-60 Years of Age”, eyecare.org,  Web. May 28th, 2018.

For more helpful eye care and vision care tips, please visit our main blog page.

115 Comments

  3. link pokaslot
    link pokaslot on March 4, 2025 at 12:16 am

    This article will assist the internet viewers for setting up new blog
    or even a blog from start to end.

  4. Chelsey
    Chelsey on March 4, 2025 at 12:18 am

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Cot Sets cot sets – Chelsey
    –

  5. Marcelino
    Marcelino on March 4, 2025 at 1:26 am

    Bedside Cot For Twins Tips From The Top In The Industry twin bedside cot (Marcelino)

  8. Chas
    Chas on March 4, 2025 at 6:29 pm

    Pallet For Sale Isn’t As Difficult As You Think pallet prices (Chas)

  10. lovewiki.faith
    lovewiki.faith on March 4, 2025 at 7:48 pm

    5 Laws That Will Help In The Buy Clovis Yorkshire
    Terrier Industry Duxi yorkshire biewer kaufen​ [lovewiki.faith]

  14. Eldon
    Eldon on March 5, 2025 at 3:06 am

    The 10 Most Worst Robot Mop And Vacuum Mistakes Of All Time
    Could Have Been Prevented best automatic vacuum
    and mop (Eldon)

  15. Ashlee
    Ashlee on March 5, 2025 at 5:09 am

    Five Killer Quora Answers To African Grey Parrot Birds For Sale african grey parrot birds for sale
    (Ashlee)

  18. Buy Macaws
    Buy Macaws on March 5, 2025 at 9:11 am

    Bonnie Scarlet Macaw For Sale: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Buy Macaws

  20. Larae
    Larae on March 5, 2025 at 10:18 am

    7 Simple Secrets To Completely Doing The Buy Driver’s
    License Without Test acheter un vrai permis de conduire (Larae)

  21. bedside Crib
    bedside Crib on March 5, 2025 at 10:53 am

    Travel Cot Bedside Crib Tools To Ease Your Everyday Lifethe Only Travel Cot Bedside Crib Trick That
    Every Person Should Know bedside Crib

  26. Rob
    Rob on March 5, 2025 at 2:26 pm

    A Brief History Of Orville Macaw Parrot Price History Of Orville Macaw Parrot Price buy a macaw (Rob)

  30. clinfowiki.win
    clinfowiki.win on March 6, 2025 at 12:42 am

    The Reasons Pixie Mini Macaw Could Be Your Next Big Obsession price of Blue Macaw (clinfowiki.win)

  33. Jade
    Jade on March 6, 2025 at 4:14 am

    Could Buy Arvin Biewer Yorkshire Terrier Mini Be The Answer To Dealing With 2024?
    Suzie Der Yorkie-Welpe – Jade –

  35. Maps.Google.Com.Np
    Maps.Google.Com.Np on March 6, 2025 at 5:39 am

    Five Qualities That People Search For In Every Buy Category
    C Driving License Comprar Carta De ConduçãO Da Categoria A (Maps.Google.Com.Np)

  42. 주서모음
    주서모음 on March 6, 2025 at 1:58 pm

    What To Do To Determine If You’re In The Right Position To Go After Collection Of Addresses And Links 주서모음

  47. fewpal.Com
    fewpal.Com on March 6, 2025 at 6:52 pm

    The Reasons Buy Category B1 Driving License Is More
    Difficult Than You Imagine comprar carta de ConduçãO categoria b (fewpal.Com)

  49. Melva
    Melva on March 6, 2025 at 9:08 pm

    Watch Out: How Electric Folding Wheelchair Is Taking Over
    And What You Can Do About It fold up electric wheelchair uk
    (Melva)

  59. Marjorie
    Marjorie on March 7, 2025 at 8:47 am

    Five Killer Quora Answers To Parrot For Sale African Grey parrot for sale african grey (Marjorie)

  65. fleck.Ru
    fleck.Ru on March 7, 2025 at 3:41 pm

    What’s The Current Job Market For Bike Exercise Home Professionals
    Like? Bike exercise Home (fleck.Ru)

  66. Rosaline
    Rosaline on March 7, 2025 at 5:49 pm

    Meet Your Fellow Germany For Buying A Driving License Enthusiasts.
    Steve Jobs Of The Germany For Buying A Driving License Industry kann man den führerschein kaufen (Rosaline)

  67. Eric1819.Com
    Eric1819.Com on March 7, 2025 at 6:37 pm

    15 Gifts For The Orville Macaw Parrot Price Lover In Your Life Spix Macaw Lifespan (Eric1819.Com)

  74. Rolland
    Rolland on March 7, 2025 at 11:16 pm

    The 10 Most Scariest Things About Bariatric Wheelchair Weight bariatric
    wheelchair weight (Rolland)

  79. swwwwiki.coresv.Net
    swwwwiki.coresv.Net on March 8, 2025 at 8:19 am

    The Most Effective Reasons For People To Succeed Within The
    Buy A Driving License Legally Industry füHrerschein kaufen deutschland (swwwwiki.coresv.Net)

  83. Taj
    Taj on March 8, 2025 at 11:24 am

    The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Best Auto Locksmith Luton best auto locksmith luton – Taj,

  85. Buford
    Buford on March 8, 2025 at 12:53 pm

    10 Reasons Why People Hate Gotogel. Gotogel situs alternatif gotogel (Buford)

  86. Julio
    Julio on March 8, 2025 at 2:10 pm

    What’s The Current Job Market For Smart Vacuum Cleaner Professionals Like?
    smart vacuum cleaner, Julio,

  98. Betty
    Betty on March 9, 2025 at 1:40 am

    What Automatic Vacuum Cleaner Uk Should Be Your Next Big Obsession robot vacuums with mop [Betty]

  99. Arnold
    Arnold on March 9, 2025 at 3:23 am

    20 Resources That Will Make You More Effective
    At Macaw Cage macaw pet (Arnold)

  101. Karry
    Karry on March 9, 2025 at 3:36 am

    9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Window
    Hinge Repairs Near Me window hinge repairs near me –
    Karry,

  104. Sergio
    Sergio on March 9, 2025 at 6:15 am

    Three Reasons To Identify Why Your Couches Sale
    Isn’t Working (And The Best Ways To Fix It) big lots couches
    for sale (Sergio)

  105. Arleen
    Arleen on March 9, 2025 at 7:21 am

    10 Things You’ve Learned In Preschool That’ll Help You Understand Buy Category B Driving License Comprar carta de condução categoria
    B (Arleen)

  106. Lane
    Lane on March 9, 2025 at 8:02 am

    9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Buy European Driving License Uk Online Buy European driving license Uk
    online, Lane,

  108. Orville
    Orville on March 9, 2025 at 9:40 am

    You’ll Be Unable To Guess Buy UK Driving Licence Online’s Tricks Buy UK driving licence online (Orville)

  115. macaw pet
    macaw pet on March 9, 2025 at 3:11 pm

    What Freud Can Teach Us About Macaw Cage macaw pet

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *