Why your eyesight gets worse as you age

Submitted by Elman Retina Group on December 15, 2016

At Elman Retina Group, our team of Maryland eye care specialists are dedicated to helping you maintain and preserve your eye and vision health. Our very own Dr. Elman specializes in retinal care and are here to provide every patient with the individualized attention they deserve.

Reasons for Eyesight Deterioration With Age

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “why does my vision only seem to get worse as I get older?” Unfortunately, this is something that resonates with most of us. Each year you come in for your eye and vision exam, you may find that your corrective vision prescription has only gotten stronger as your eyesight has become weaker.

There are many reasons as to why your eyesight may deteriorate with age. For starters, the eye’s lens begins to lose its ability to focus by age 11, for most people. This loss in focus happens very gradually, but is noticeable in most people by the time they turn 40. From there, the ability of the lens to focus further deteriorates, resulting in blurred vision.

Another common reason for vision deterioration as you age is that of sun exposure. Most people don’t realize how damaging the sun’s rays can be to their eyes, but UV rays are a leading cause of cataracts, an eye condition that results in blurry spots of vision in the eye. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to permanent vision blurriness and vision loss.

Tips for Preserving Your Eyesight

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to better preserve your eyesight. From wearing sunglasses with total UVA and UVB protection to making sure you’re eating a diet rich in nutrients, small lifestyle changes can lead to great results.

Schedule Your Eye Care Appointment

Have you had your annual eye exam yet this year? If not, be sure to call Elman Retina Group today at (410) 686-3000 to set up your eye care appointment with us.

What measures are you taking to preserve your vision as you age?