Over 40: How has your vision changed?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Bich Nhi - Ophthalmologist - General Surgery Department - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

As you enter your 40s, some eye health problems develop more commonly with age. These are some of the changes in the optical structure that can impair vision as well as new eye symptoms, such as presbyopia, changes in color perception, decreased tear production, etc.
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Starting in their mid-40s, many people can begin to have problems seeing well up close, especially when reading or working on a computer. This is one of the most common problems adults have between the ages of 40 and 60. The normal change in the eye's ability to focus is called presbyopia and it will continue to progress over time.
Early signs may be to keep the material to be read at a distance for better visibility; Or you may need to remove your glasses to get a closer look. Under these circumstances, reading some print publications such as newspapers or restaurant menus may appear blurry, especially under dim lights.
If prescription glasses or contact lenses are used to see clearly from a distance, changes in near vision can be improved by switching to bifocals or multifocal lenses. There are a number of options available to people with presbyopia to help improve vision.
So, when you are between the ages of 40 and 60, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your ophthalmologist at least every two years so that eye problems can be checked and detected early. In addition, people over the age of 40 with health or work-specific problems may be at risk for eye and vision problems, such as:
Chronic, systemic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure Family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration Work that requires high visual acuity or work in a hazardous work environment. Health conditions related to high cholesterol, thyroid, anxiety or depression, and arthritis with concomitant medication use. Many medications, even antihistamines, have side effects on vision.

Like the body, eyes and vision or vision change over time. Although not everyone experiences the same symptoms, here are some age-related vision changes, especially over the age of 40:
Need more light to see: As you get older, you need more light to see as well as you used to when you were younger. Brighter lights in a work area or next to a reading chair can make reading and operations easier. Difficulty reading and working up close: Paper media can become harder to see in part because the lens in the eye becomes less flexible over time. This makes it harder for the eyes to focus on close objects than when they were younger. Problems with glare: When driving, you may notice glare from your headlights at night or the sun reflecting off your windshield or face during the day. Changes in the lens in the eye cause light entering the eye to be scattered instead of being properly focused on the retina. This creates a lot of glare. Change in color perception: The lens in a normal eye can change color. However, as age increases, this will make it difficult for the eyes to see and distinguish colors. Reduced tear production: With increasing age, the tear glands in the eye produce fewer tears, especially in women who have undergone hormonal changes such as menopause. The result will be dry and burning eyes.

If eyeglasses or contact lenses are not yet required to correct distant vision, near vision problems after age 40 can cause concern and interfere with daily life. This condition causes people over the age of 40 to suddenly feel incapable of reading newspapers or looking at cell phones.
In fact, changes in concentration have occurred gradually since childhood. However, at this age, the eyes no longer have the strength to focus clearly when reading and near vision activities.
Loss of ability to focus at close range is called farsightedness. This condition occurs because the lens inside the eye becomes less flexible. Because this flexibility allows the eye to change focus from distant objects to near objects. People with presbyopia have several options to improve their vision including:
Eyeglasses including prescription reading glasses or multifocal lenses Contact lenses include monofocal and bifocal lenses Laser surgery and other refractive surgery procedures As age continues to increase, presbyopia will become more advanced. At this point, you realize that you need to change your glasses more often than before. However, by age 60, changes in near vision will stop and changes prescribed by your doctor will occur less frequently.

Age 40 and beyond is an increased risk of developing certain eye and vision problems. The following symptoms may be early warning signs of the disease:
Fluctuating vision: Frequent changes in vision could be a sign of diabetes or high blood pressure. Chronic conditions of these diseases can damage the small blood vessels in the retina that make the back layer of the eye sensitive to light. This vision loss is likely to be permanent. Seeing spots and marks: Occasionally, you may see spots or bumps in your eyes. In most cases, these are images of bubbles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Although, they can be uncomfortable, spots and wounds are not harmful to vision. Because they are a natural part of the aging process of the eyes. However, if you suddenly see more spots and marks than usual along with flashes of light or lightning, see your ophthalmologist for an examination. This could be a sign that the retina is torn and it could be detached. This condition needs to be treated immediately to prevent serious vision loss.
Loss of Side Vision: Loss of peripheral or lateral vision can be a sign of glaucoma. It occurs when the optic nerve is damaged and can no longer transmit all visual images to the brain. This condition often has no symptoms until vision damage begins to take its toll. Distorted vision: Straight or wavy lines or a blank area in the center of vision can be a sign of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The disease usually affects the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. The disease causes a blind spot in the middle of your vision. Therefore, regular eye exams and early diagnosis will help treat eye diseases.

Get regular eye exams: The American Optometric Association recommends that people age 40 and older see an eye doctor at least once every two years. Wear a hat and sunglasses: Sunlight can speed cataract formation and they can blur vision. So wearing sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat can protect your eyes against UV rays. Have a proper work plan: Working at a computer for long periods of time can cause eye strain. Therefore, set time to rest your eyes about every 20 minutes during work. Maintain healthy habits to improve health. Avoid or give up smoking, exercise regularly to reduce strain on the eyes. Taking care of eye health is an important part of general health. In order to detect the risk of eye diseases early, you need to be examined and diagnosed with eye problems early, to avoid long-term progression of the disease, which can easily lead to unfortunate complications, especially affecting your health. seriously affect the health and life of the elderly.
Eye specialties at Vinmec International General Hospital are international standard medical facilities with the function of examining and treating many diseases, including Ophthalmology with comprehensive quality in both expertise and health services.
Eye specialist at Vinmec has comprehensive vision and eye health care functions for children, adults and the elderly including: refractive error check, laser treatment and surgery. In addition, the department also has the task of coordinating with other clinical departments in the treatment of pathological complications and eye injuries caused by accidents.
Besides, the team of Ophthalmologists at Vinmec are experienced doctors who have performed many types of surgery from routine to difficult surgery, especially techniques that require aesthetics. . With enthusiasm and love for the profession, the team of doctors working at Vinmec always gives customers the best services with the highest service quality.
Doctor CKI Nguyen Thi Bich Nhi has nearly 10 years of experience in the eye field. Treatment of medical eye diseases as well as eye surgery such as: pterygium, entropion, milia, glaucoma and cataract surgery by Phaco method. Besides, it also treats diabetic retinopathy by intraocular Anti-VEGF injection and ophthalmic surgery. Currently, the doctor is an Eye Doctor in the Department of Medical Examination - Internal Medicine, Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Reference source: aoa.org