Why does nearsightedness improve with age

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About Foundation Museum of the Eye. I'm 62 years old and my distance vision has improved without spectacles. Why is that? FEB 21, Question: I'm 62 years old and my distance vision has improved without spectacles.

Your risk of developing glaucoma increases with each decade after age 40, from around 1 percent in your 40s to up to 12 percent in your 80s. More than 10 million Americans over age 40 are known to have diabetes. Among known diabetics over age 40, NEI estimates that 40 percent have some degree of diabetic retinopathy that could lead to permanent vision loss. While we often think of aging as it relates to conditions such as presbyopia and cataracts, more subtle changes in our vision and eye structures also take place as we grow older.

As we age, muscles that control our pupil size and reaction to light lose some strength. This causes the pupil to become smaller and less responsive to changes in ambient lighting. Because of these changes, people in their 60s need three times more ambient light for comfortable reading than those in their 20s. Also, seniors are more likely to be dazzled by bright sunlight and glare when emerging from a dimly lit building such as a movie theater.

Eyeglasses with photochromic lenses and anti-reflective coating can help reduce this problem. As we age, we naturally lose some of the visual abilities we had when we were younger.

As we age, our bodies produce fewer tears. This is particularly true for women after menopause. If you begin to experience a burning sensation , stinging, or other eye discomfort related to dry eyes , use artificial tears as needed throughout the day for comfort, or consult your eye doctor for other options such as prescription dry eye medications. Aging also causes a normal loss of peripheral vision , with the size of our visual field decreasing by approximately one to three degrees per decade of life.

By the time you reach your 70s and 80s, you may have a peripheral visual field loss of 20 to 30 degrees. Because the loss of visual field increases the risk for automobile accidents, make sure you are more cautious when driving. To increase your range of vision, turn your head and look both ways when approaching intersections.

Cells in the retina that are responsible for normal color vision decline in sensitivity as we age, causing colors to become less bright and the contrast between different colors to be less noticeable. In particular, blue colors may appear faded or "washed out. However, if your fading color vision is also due to cataracts, much of the loss can be restored with cataract surgery. As we age, the gel-like vitreous inside the eye begins to liquefy and pull away from the retina, causing " spots and floaters " and sometimes flashes of light.

This condition, called vitreous detachment , is usually harmless. But floaters and flashes of light can also signal the beginning of a detached retina — a serious problem that can cause blindness if not treated immediately. If you experience flashes and floaters, see your eye doctor immediately to determine the cause. Many medications, even antihistamines, have vision side effects.

Understanding age-related vision changes Just like your body, your eyes and vision change over time. While not everyone will experience the same 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 used to. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other close-up tasks easier. Difficulty reading and doing close work. Printed materials can become less clear, in part because the lens in your eye becomes less flexible over time. This makes it harder for your eyes to focus on near objects than when you were younger.

Problems with a glare. When driving, you may notice additional glare from headlights at night or sun reflecting off windshields or pavement during the day.

Changes in your lenses in your eyes cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina. This creates more glare. Changes in color perception. The normally clear lens located inside your eye may start to discolor. This makes it harder to see and distinguish between certain color shades.

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

Encountering problems with near vision after 40 If you have never needed eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision, then experiencing near vision problems after age 40 can be concerning and frustrating. They include: Eyeglasses, including reading glasses, bifocals, and progressive lenses. Contact lenses, including monovision and multifocal lenses.

Laser surgery and other refractive surgery procedures. 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. The following symptoms could be the early warning signs of a serious eye health problem: Fluctuating vision. Frequent changes in how clearly you can see maybe 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. This vision loss can sometimes be permanent. Seeing floaters and flashes. Occasionally, you may see spots or floaters in your eyes.

In most cases, these are shadowy images of particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye.