Everyone experiences some vision changes as you get older, with the National Institute on Aging reporting that many seniors experience diminished vision up close and have difficulty distinguishing between colors. It can also become more challenging to adjust your eyes after light increases or decreases.

While these can all be normal age-related vision changes, getting older is also associated with certain serious eye conditions. These conditions can cause a loss of vision, which can lead to a loss of mobility and independence. 

Knowing the signs of common eye conditions and taking steps to prevent them can help you stay healthy, well and independent for as long as possible.

Age-Related Vision Changes

A number of eye conditions are more common among seniors:

Age-related macular degeneration occurs when the macula in your eye is damaged. The macula, part of the retina, is responsible for central vision, which helps you see objects clearly. There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): dry AMD, which causes gradually blurred vision, and wet AMD, which causes sudden blurred vision and a total loss of central vision.

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye, which is usually clear, becomes cloudy or opaque. Some cataracts are small, but others are large and cause significant blurriness and vision loss. You may develop a cataract in one eye or in both, causing difficulty seeing in low-light conditions, diminished color detection and an increased sensitivity to glares.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs in those who have diabetes when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels that feed the retina. When that happens, those blood vessels leak blood, which causes swelling in the retina and cloudy vision. In severe cases, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.

Glaucoma occurs when damage to the optic nerve causes a loss of peripheral, or side, vision. This damage is usually caused by excessive fluid building up behind the eye. Someone with glaucoma may not experience any symptoms until peripheral vision is significantly diminished.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Vision

Your eyes play a vital role in helping you navigate through life independently. When your vision is diminished, it can increase your risk of falls and impact your ability to drive safely. Protect your vision with a few eye-healthy habits:

• Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, work with your physician to quit. Smoking damages blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the eyes. This can increase the risk of AMD and cataracts.
  
  

• Fill your plate with healthy foods. Make antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables the foundation of your diet, eating produce of a variety of hues for a full range of nutrients. Dark, leafy greens, including spinach and kale, are particularly good for the eyes. You can also boost your eye health by eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, including flaxseed and fatty fish such as salmon and tuna.
  
  

• Protect your eyes from the sun. You know to wear sunscreen when you head outside, but are you taking steps to protect your eyes? Pop on a pair of sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV protection to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them.
  
  

• See an eye health professional regularly. The National Eye Institute recommends that adults ages 60 and older have a dilated eye exam every one to two years. African Americans ages 40 and older and anyone with a family history of glaucoma should also be screened regularly.
  
  

• Stay physically active. What does exercise have to do with your eyes? A lot, actually! Exercising regularly can help you lower your risk of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can lead to vision loss.

It’s also a good idea for older adults—and the younger people who love them—to regularly assess whether they can safely drive. 

An inability to clearly see road signs, difficulty judging distance, a loss of side vision and problems seeing in low light are all potential signs that vision loss may be affecting a person’s driving abilities.

Talk with a physician or an eye health professional about next steps if you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms.