7 usual ageing symptoms in people over 40

Ageing is inevitable, while the metabolism is getting slower and the hairs are getting gray, ageing will affect our eyes as well. Knowing the ageing process of eyes will help to slow down the process.

In this article you will find information about the changes in eyes during ageing journey. Some of these changes are normal due to getting older, whereas some others may be symptoms of diseases. This is why, ophthalmology academy advises getting periodical ophthalmologic checkups after 40.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a refractive error that makes it hard for middle-aged and older adults to see things up close. It happens because the lens (an inner part of the eye that helps the eye focus) stops focusing light correctly on the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye).

Dry eye

Dry eye syndrome (DES), also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is the condition of having dry eyes. Other associated symptoms include irritation, redness, discharge, and easily fatigued eyes. Blurred vision may also occur. Symptoms range from mild and occasional to severe and continuous.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. However, it usually takes several years for diabetic retinopathy to reach a stage where it could threaten your sight.

cataract

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colors, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble seeing at night.

Floaters and Flashes

Lots of people, particularly older people, get floaters and flashes.
They’re usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes.
Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment.
This is serious and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.
Floaters and flashes can also happen for no obvious reason.

AMD: Age related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can blur your central vision. It happens when aging causes damage to the macula — the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. The macula is part of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye).
AMD is a common condition — it’s a leading cause of vision loss for older adults. AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness, but losing your central vision can make it harder to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work like cooking or fixing things around the house.
AMD happens very slowly in some people and faster in others. If you have early AMD, you may not notice vision loss for a long time. That’s why it’s important to get regular eye exams to find out if you have AMD.

To prevent diseases caused by ageing, every individual must do periodical ophthalmologic checkups after 40,
Then continue checkups every 4 year until age 54 years,
Every 3 year until 65 years of age,
And every year or according to doctors recommendation after age 65.
Some people might need shorter intervals for their ophthalmologic checkups according to their health condition.