As we age, it’s not uncommon to experience changes in vision, most often starting in our 40s, when it becomes more difficult to focus on objects up close. Known as presbyopia (or “old eye” in Greek), this condition is a normal part of aging. If you’ve never needed glasses before, you’ll probably need to pop into the pharmacy for a pair of cheap readers, glasses that increase magnification by +1.00 and progress upwards in +.25 increments.
While presbyopia is easy to fix, it can also serve as a reminder to start having regular appointments to get your eyes checked since you are at greater risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions as you age. The National Eye Institute recommends that everyone get a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor by age 50, even if you don’t have vision problems. (People with high blood pressure should have a baseline exam at age 40, and those with diabetes should have an annual eye exam.)
Many age-related eye conditions have no warning signs or symptoms, so it’s important to identify and address them in the early stages, before experiencing long-term vision loss.
