Aging Changes in the Senses

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Vision

Vision occurs when light is processed by your eye and interpreted by your brain. Light passes through the transparent eye surface (cornea).

Your pupil is an opening to the eye interior. It can become larger or smaller to regulate the amount of light that enters your eye. The colored portion (iris) is a muscle that controls the pupil size.

The inside of your eye is filled with a gel-like fluid. There is a flexible, transparent lens that focuses light so it hits on your retina (the back of the eye). Your retina converts light energy into a nerve impulse that is carried to the brain and then interpreted.

Some age-related eye changes can begin as early as your 30s. Aging eyes produce less tears. Dry eyes can be quite uncomfortable. Many people find relief by using eyedrops or artificial tears solutions.

All of the eye structures change with aging. The cornea becomes less sensitive, so injuries may not be noticed. By the time you turn 60, your pupils decrease to about one-third of the size they were when you were 20.

The pupil may also react more slowly in response to darkness or bright light. The lens becomes yellowed, less flexible, and slightly cloudy. The fat pads supporting the eye decrease and the eye "sinks" back into the socket. The eye muscles become less able to fully rotate the eye.

As you age, the sharpness of your vision (visual acuity) may gradually decline. Glasses or contact lenses may help correct age-related vision changes. You may eventually need bifocals.

Almost everyone older than 55 needs glasses at least part of the time. However, the amount of change is not universal. Only 15% to 20% of older people have bad enough vision to impair driving ability, and only 5% become unable to read. The most common problem is difficulty focusing the eyes (a condition called presbyopia).

You may be less able to tolerate glare, and you may find that you have more trouble adapting to darkness or bright light. Many older people find that although their vision is good enough to drive during the day, they must give up night driving because of problem with glare and brightness/darkness. Significant difficulty with night driving may be the first sign of a cataract (a clouding of the eye lens).

Indoor glare, such as glare from a shiny floor in a sunlit room, can also make it difficult to get around inside.

For people of all ages, it is harder to distinguish blues and greens than it is to distinguish reds and yellows. This becomes even more pronounced with aging. As your age increases, using warm contrasting colors (yellow, orange, and red) in your home can improve your ability to tell where things are and makes it easier to perform daily activities.

Many older people find that keeping a red light on in darkened rooms (such as the hallway or bathroom) makes it easier to see than using a "regular" night light. Red light produces less glare than a regular incandescent bulb.

With aging, the fluid inside your eye may change. Small particles can create "floaters" in your vision. Although annoying, floaters oftentimes do not indicate a dangerous condition and usually do not reduce vision. If you suddenly develop floaters or experience a rapid increase in the number of them, you should definitely have your eyes checked by a professional.

When your eyes are examined, you may not be able to move your eye in all directions. Your upward gaze may be limited. The area in which objects can be seen (visual field) gets smaller.

Reduced peripheral vision is common and can limit social interaction and activity. Older people may not communicate with people sitting next to them because they cannot see them well -- or perhaps at all. Food and drinks may be spilled. Driving can become dangerous.

Common eye disorders in the elderly (changes that are NOT normal) include cataracts, glaucoma, senile macular degeneration, and diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy.