Aging and Your Eyes

Are you holding the newspaper farther away from your eyes than you used to? Join the crowd—age can bring changes that affect your eyesight. Some changes are more serious than others, but for many problems, there are things you can do to protect your vision. The key is to have regular eye exams so you can spot problems early.

See an eye care professional right away if you:

• Suddenly cannot see or everything looks blurry
• See flashes of light
• Have eye pain
• Experience double vision
• Have redness or swelling of your eye or eyelid

What Is Low Vision?

Low vision means you cannot fix your eyesight with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. Low vision affects some people as they age. You may have low vision if you:

• Can’t see well enough to do everyday tasks like reading, cooking, or sewing
• Have difficulty recognizing the faces of your friends or family
• Have trouble reading street signs
• Find that lights don’t seem as bright

If you have any of these problems, ask your eye care professional to test you for low vision. Special tools can help people with low vision to read, write, and manage daily tasks. These tools include large-print reading materials, magnifying aids, closed-circuit televisions, audio tapes, electronic reading machines, and computers with large print and a talking function.

Other tips that may help:

• Brighten the lighting in your room.
• Write with bold, black felt-tip markers.
• Use paper with bold lines to help you write in a straight line.
• Put colored tape on the edge of your steps to help you see them and prevent you from falling.
• Install dark-colored light switches and electrical outlets that you can see easily against light-colored walls.
• Use motion lights that turn on when you enter a room. These may help you avoid accidents caused by poor lighting.
• Use telephones, clocks, and watches with large numbers; put large-print labels on the microwave and stove.

Remember to ask your eye doctor if your vision is okay for safe driving.

For More Information About Eye Problems

National Eye Institute
1-301-496-5248
2020@nei.nih.gov
www.nei.nih.gov

MedlinePlus
National Library of Medicine      
www.medlineplus.gov

Source:  National Institute on Aging17