5 Vision Tips For Seniors

Your eyes are probably not what they used to be when you were younger. You may feel that they are getting tired quicker, that they are less sensitive to light, and that you can no longer distinguish colours as clearly. 

But your vision can get much worse if you don’t take the proper precautions. By eating well, protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet light, operating in well-lit rooms, resting your eyes often, and scheduling routine eye exams, you can keep your vision young even as you get older. 

If you want to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle during your retirement, taking care of your eyesight should be a top priority. 

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Preparing Your Vision For Your Golden Years

Your vision needs not to deteriorate as you get older. Multiple measures at your disposal can help you take control of your eyesight so that you can enjoy sharp vision for many years to come. 

There is no secret remedy, however; the tips for good eyesight are the same for everybody, regardless of their age. The difference is that, as a senior, you must take this advice even more to heart. If you have not been taking precautions to protect your eyesight, you must begin now. 

My Optometrist Calgary has been offering eye exams for seniors and helping older Calgarians taking care of their sight for years. See what we can do to help you maintain your vision by calling 403-256-0606 or filling out the online contact form below.

How You Can Maintain Your Vision 

As you age, your eyes undergo a series of changes that cause a decline in your vision. These physiological changes include:

• The lens inside your eye loses their ability to change shape, causing presbyopia. 
• The lens inside your eye begins to cloud, resulting in cataracts.
• Your pupils become smaller, reducing your sensitivity to ambient lighting. 
• Cells responsible for colour vision in your retina become less sensitive, reducing your colour perception. 
• The gel-like fluid (vitreous) gradually detaches from your retina, engendering occasional floaters and flashes of light in your line of vision. 

While you cannot stop the irreversible effects of aging, you can significantly slow them down. Here are 5 ways for seniors to keep their eyesight sharp and vibrant well into their golden years:

1. Eat a balanced diet: If you have been neglecting your citrus fruits, leafy greens, carrots, and nuts and seeds, you need to start making up for time lost immediately. These foods all contain nutrients that can slow down vision deterioration and reduce the risk of macular degeneration.  
2. Protect your eyes from the sun: You may have gotten away with staring at the sun when you were younger, but you probably cannot do that anymore. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are infamous for causing eye damage, including blindness. Now that your eyes are more fragile than ever, consider wearing UV-coated sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight. If you are already wearing prescription glasses, order a pair of prescription sunglasses.  
3. Have ample lighting at all times: Except when you are sleeping, your room should always be well-lit. Dim light makes your eyes work harder, forcing them to adjust to the darkness and straining them in the process. To conserve your vision for as long as possible, you should avoid exerting your eyes. That includes cutting down the number of candle-lit dinners you have per week. 
4. Rest your eyes often: Your eyes are not designed to focus on a computer or TV screen for hours on end. Backlit screens emit a glare that continuously stresses your eyes, worsening them over time. At your age, your eyes are especially susceptible to prolonged strain and need to take frequent breaks. If your work requires you to look at a screen the whole day, make sure to take a 30-second break every 20 minutes. 
5. Do not skimp on regular eye checkups: Perhaps the most important tip is to have a reputable optometrist oversee your vision changes during your senior years. While the 4 tips above can help you reduce the effects of aging on your vision, they cannot guarantee that your eyes will remain healthy. 

Annual visits to the eye doctor are the closest you can get to guaranteeing healthy vision. An optometrist can easily diagnose eye conditions common in seniors, such as presbyopia, cataracts, and macular degeneration, and prescribe the correct treatments to counteract them.

Aging Vision Does Not Mean Poor Vision 

Your eyes may have a tougher time doing the things they used to do when they were younger. But that does not mean you have to be satisfied with reduced vision. You can still enjoy the sharp and high-definition vision of your younger self; you just need to take some precautions to maintain it. 

With a balanced diet, adequate ultraviolet protection, bright lighting at all times, frequent rests, and the assistance of your optometrist, you are very likely to maintain your sight for a long time to come. 

And where better to find this optometrist than at My Optometrist Calgary? Call 403-256-0606 or fill out the online contact form to learn how we can help your vision age gracefully. 

FAQs

Does smoking affect my eyesight?
Yes. Smoking is associated with vision loss, as well as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Quitting can be a good idea to preserve your eyesight. 

Does exercising help my eyesight?
It is unclear whether exercising can improve your eyesight, but it can reduce eye strain. 

How common are vision problems in seniors?
Approximately one-third of people experience vision problems by the age of 65.