What Seniors Need to Know About Vision Loss

FOR MOST OF US, HITTING age 40 signals a time of change in several aspects of our health. One of the most noticeable changes is the way we see close-up objects. Called presbyopia, this condition is different from garden-variety farsightedness and results from a loss of flexibility of the lens in the eye – the lens gets more rigid, and it’s simply more difficult to focus on objects near you. It’s a relatively easy problem to correct – many of us simply reach for a pair of “cheater” reading glasses or a flashlight to help navigate the fine print of restaurant menus and another small type in low-lit areas. Others find it might be time for that first pair of prescription glasses.

But as we continue to age, our eyes continue to change. Those changes may require more than a cheap pair of readers to correct, and changing eye health can also have implications for overall health.