Why Your Near Vision Changes After 40

As we age, vision changes are inevitable. While some of these changes are caused by age-related diseases, others are simply a natural part of getting older. Presbyopia is a natural and inevitable condition that affects every one of us. It occurs when the eye’s lens gradually loses its flexibility, making it harder to focus on nearby objects. So, if you’ve hit your 40s and suddenly find yourself holding your phone farther away to read it, you’re not alone.

The good news is that presbyopia is easily managed with solutions like reading glasses or advanced laser treatments, helping you maintain clear vision at every distance and every age.

Understanding Age-Related Vision Changes

No matter how well we take care of ourselves, our bodies and minds still change as we age. Included in this long list of changes are your eyes and overall vision.

With age, the eye’s natural lens becomes more rigid and less flexible. This makes it harder to focus on nearby objects, resulting in age-related farsightedness. Additionally, the eye muscles responsible for focusing and controlling the pupil also weaken. Light sensitivity, reduced low light vision, and difficulty discerning different colours follow as a result.

Decreased tear production is another common side effect of aging, as is the breakdown of proteins and fibres within the lens, which leads to the formation of a cataract. The vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks, too. This creates small, dark spots known as “floaters” that seem to float across your vision.

Aging can also cause changes to the cornea and retina, affecting the quality of your vision and overall eye health.

All that said, it’s important to remember that everyone ages differently. Your symptoms, challenges, and experiences may be very different from those of your parents, spouse, and friends (although there are hereditary health risks that you should be aware of).

Furthermore, age-related vision changes are gradual. You will likely begin to notice them after the age of 40, but it can take years or decades for these changes to significantly affect your daily life.

Many vision changes are a natural part of aging. They don’t mean that you’re unhealthy or that you have dropped the ball on your eye health. Nonetheless, some changes do indicate a disease or serious issue, so it’s crucial to educate yourself on normal and abnormal age-related vision changes.

Common Age-Related Eye Problems

• Presbyopia: This describes age-related farsightedness. This refractive error is a result of the lens losing its flexibility. It is the most common age-related vision challenge.

• Dry Eyes: As you age, your tear glands produce fewer and fewer tears. Reduced tear production affects both men and women, but especially women experiencing hormonal changes. Without enough tears, your eyes will feel dry and irritated.

• Reduced Low Light Vision: The photo receptors in your eyes lose their ability to see clearly in low light as you get older. Additionally, your pupils become less responsive as the muscles around the eye weaken. This also affects your night vision. Consequently, some seniors begin to struggle with driving at night.

• Light Sensitivity: You may also notice increased light sensitivity and glare problems. As your eyes change, the lens can cause light to scatter rather than focus precisely on the retina. Changes in the retina, such as worn-down cells and nerves, also increase sensitivity to bright light. Smaller pupils can have a similar effect.

• Cataracts: Over time, the proteins in your eye’s lens begin to break down. These proteins clump together to form a cataract. The lens becomes cloudy, blurring your vision and creating discolouration, halos, and poor low-light vision. Without treatment, a cataract can lead to complete vision loss.

• Glaucoma: Your risk of developing glaucoma increases as you age, with most cases occurring in those over the age of 40. Glaucoma is an eye disease wherein increased eye pressure can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness.

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): This eye disease primarily affects people over 50. It affects the macula, which is the central part of your retina. Consequently, AMD impacts the central zone of your vision, leading to vision loss in that specific area.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a naturally occurring, age-related vision condition that compromises your ability to focus on nearby objects. It’s a result of the eye’s lens becoming stiffer with age.

In our younger years, the lens was soft and flexible. As a result, it easily changed shape as your vision shifted from faraway to close objects. However, once the lens loses this flexibility, it can no longer refract light correctly. Instead of light landing directly on the retina, light focuses behind the retina. This makes close-up objects appear fuzzy rather than clear and sharp.

Unfortunately, presbyopia is a natural part of aging. It affects everyone eventually, even those who have lived their entire lives without any prior refractive errors.

Symptoms

• Nearby objects appear blurry.
• You need to hold reading materials further away in order to focus.
• Headaches can occur after doing close-up work.
• Eye strain can happen (when your eyes feel sore or tired).

Eye Treatment for Presbyopia

Reading Glasses

Reading glasses are the simplest and most common solution for presbyopia. They magnify nearby objects, so it’s easier to read, text, or work on your computer. Although some strengths are available over the counter, most individuals will need prescription reading glasses from their optometrist to meet their vision needs.

Additionally, reading glasses only correct near vision, meaning you’ll need to remove them for distance tasks.

PRESBYOND (Laser Blended Vision Correction)

PRESBYOND (Laser Blended Vision Correction Treatment) is a laser treatment designed specifically to correct presbyopia. Its blended approach means that one eye is corrected for distance vision, while the other is corrected for near vision. The result is an increased depth of field: you’re able to see clearly at all distances, near and far.

This revolutionary laser eye surgery reduces or eliminates your need for reading glasses. Consequently, it’s the ideal solution for those wanting to restore their vision and ditch the reading glasses for good.

Treating Presbyopia at Clearview Vision Institute

Clearview Vision Institute was the first clinic in North America to introduce the laser blended vision treatment, PRESBYOND. Our first priority is always our patients, which is why we are at the forefront of groundbreaking new technologies and procedures.

PRESBYOND, in particular, is less invasive, lower risk, and more effective than other treatments for presbyopia available today. To learn if PRESBYOND is right for you, and to finally put away your reading glasses for good, contact Clearview Vision Institute.

To request more information on presbyopia eye treatment, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.