Things To Consider and What to Do If Your Eyesight Is Deteriorating (Depending On Your Age)

Vision can change over time for a variety of reasons, including age-related changes, lifestyle factors, underlying health conditions, and eye diseases. While some people notice changes in their eyesight as they get older, vision deterioration should never be dismissed as simply a normal part of ageing. The good news is that many vision problems can be effectively managed or treated thanks to ongoing advances in eye care and treatment options. If you experience changes in your vision, it’s important to seek professional advice. 

Read on as our expert surgeons delve into the ways our eyesight changes with age, identifying which changes are natural and which symptoms signal it’s time to seek medical support. 

Is Bad Eyesight Genetic?

If you have noticed that several members of your family wear glasses or have similar eye conditions, your DNA is likely to play a significant role in your vision. Many common sight issues have a hereditary link, particularly refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, as well as even more complex conditions, such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration. Knowing your family history can be a powerful tool, as it allows you to stay proactive with regular check-ups and catch any changes early.

How Our Modern Environment Impacts Sight

While our genes set the stage, our daily habits and environment often act as the directors of our eye health.

Digital Lifestyles and Screen Time

In today’s world, we spend a vast amount of time looking at digital screens. Whether for work or winding down with a smartphone, this constant focus can lead to digital eye strain. 

When viewing screens, people typically exhibit a reduced spontaneous blink rate and more incomplete blinks. This decreases the distribution of the tear film across the ocular surface and increases tear evaporation, leading to tear-film instability and ocular surface drying. The result can be blurring of vision and symptoms consistent with evaporative dry eye, such as dryness, burning, grittiness, redness, and eye fatigue.

Knowing how to avoid eye strain from technology is essential for maintaining comfort and clarity in our increasingly digital lives. 

The Sun and External Stressors

Just as we protect our skin from the sun, our eyes need protection too. Long-term exposure to UV rays without proper sunglasses can speed up the development of cataracts, making it vital to follow simple steps to protect your vision from harmful UV rays. 

Other lifestyle factors, such as smoking or a diet lacking in essential nutrients, can also impact the delicate structures of the eye. Think of your eyes as high-performance instruments; they need the right fuel, like Vitamin A, C, and Omega-3s, to function at their best. If you are unsure of the next steps to take, understanding what to do if your eyesight is deteriorating can help you to manage these changes effectively.

Understanding Vision Evolution: What to Expect Through the Decades

In Your 20s: Accommodative Stress and Digital Integration

Although your overall physical development may have stabilised, your eyes often face heightened strain during your 20s. This period is commonly marked by accommodative stress often due to increased studying. Vision issues like refractive errors, especially myopia, may still shift as your eyes adjust to the intense visual demands of today’s screen-focused lifestyle. 

The main concern here is digital eye strain. When concentrating on screens, we tend to blink far less, sometimes up to 66% less. This can cause the tear film to dry out and result in a gritty feeling along with occasional blurriness.

While digital eye strain can cause fluctuating, temporary blur from tear-film dryness, persistent blur is more often due to refractive error, which is where glasses come in. Importantly, wearing glasses doesn’t weaken your eyes; lenses simply offset the natural shape of your eye and don’t make your eyes lazy or contribute to worsening vision.

At times, gradual vision changes go unnoticed, which can lead to sudden shifts in your prescription over time. Using outdated or incorrect prescriptions can place extra stress on your eyes, often causing headaches and blurred sight. Routine eye exams play an essential role in spotting these changes early, keeping your prescription current, and identifying potential problems before they progress. 

In Your 30s: Cumulative Effects and Ocular Surface Health

By the time you reach your 30s, the cumulative effects of modern life and daily screen usage often become more apparent with the use of phones, computers and digital devices in workplace settings. Adults should maintain regular eye examinations during this decade because your refractive status can still change in adulthood. It’s a common misconception that eye prescriptions completely lock into place after your 20s; subtle refractive changes remain entirely normal.

Focus on maintaining your ocular surface health during this decade. Digital eye strain and dry eye syndrome are highly common in working-age adults, particularly those dedicating long hours to digital devices. To counter these effects, incorporating simple habits such as the 20-20-20 rule – looking away from your screen every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds – alongside using preservative-free lubricating eye drops, can dramatically improve tear stability and restore everyday comfort.

You might also begin to wonder about age-related changes like presbyopia, which is the natural loss of near-focusing flexibility. Presbyopia typically begins in the late 30s to early 40s, rather than right at the start of your 30s, but keeping your eyes well-lubricated and taking regular screen breaks are excellent habits to establish during this stage.

40 and Beyond: Presbyopia and Early Ocular Screening

As people enter their 40s and beyond, natural ageing processes can affect their eyes, increasing the likelihood of certain conditions, particularly presbyopia, which makes focusing on close objects more challenging.

Cataracts are uncommon in 40-year-olds; however, continued exposure to environmental factors, such as UV radiation and lifestyle choices like smoking, poor diet and outdoor work adds to the risk of cataracts. 

Metabolic changes associated with ageing and conditions like diabetes, which may become more prevalent, can further elevate the risk. Genetic factors also play a role, particularly for individuals with a family history of cataracts.

Oxidative stress, a natural byproduct of metabolism, can contribute to cellular damage that increases the risk of cataracts. Lifestyle modifications, such as UV protection, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking, are also essential in reducing the risk of cataract development and preserving optimal eye health amidst the natural changes that come with age.

Can Poor Vision Improve Naturally?

It’s a common question, but unfortunately, most vision issues will not resolve on their own. For those experiencing deteriorating eyesight, improvements usually necessitate medical intervention. 

Cataracts are a common reason for blurry or reduced vision. They happen when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. Over time, this cloudiness usually gets worse, making it harder to see clearly, especially for reading, driving at night, or seeing in bright light.

The good news is that cataracts are very treatable. Addressing them at the right time can prevent vision from declining further and help you maintain your independence and daily activities. If you notice your vision getting steadily worse, it’s important to have an eye exam so you can discuss the best timing for treatment.

Cataract surgery emerges as a highly effective solution, removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens. Beyond restoring clear vision, this procedure significantly improves overall quality of life and well-being. 

Importance of Noticing and Documenting Changes

Monitoring changes in eyesight allows for the early detection of potential problems. This is crucial for timely intervention and management, especially in conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, where early detection can prevent further damage. Identifying and documenting changes in your eyesight at every stage has the following benefits. Key signs to pay attention to are:

• Persistent headaches
• Red eye and/or painful eye
• Sudden double vision (diplopia) 
• Flashes of light in your vision 
• Sudden onset floaters
• Shadows or curtains in vision
• Straight lines appearing wavy 

Professional Diagnosis

This provides valuable information for eye care professionals. It helps them understand the nature and progression of the problem, aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Getting the Correct Treatment

Identifying changes in eyesight early on r allows for more effective treatment planning. Whether it’s the prescription of corrective lenses or the management of an underlying eye condition, timely action can improve outcomes.

Monitoring Progress

Keeping track of changes to your eye health helps in monitoring the effectiveness of prescribed treatments. 

Overall Health Awareness

Changes in eyesight can sometimes be indicative of broader health issues such as diabetes or hypertension. Regular eye checkups and documenting changes contribute to overall health awareness.

What next? Get in Touch for Free, No-Obligation Advice.

At Optegra, we carry out tens of thousands of cataract procedures each year, with an impressive success rate of 99.2%. Learn more about cataract surgery at Optegra or book a no-obligation, free consultation for expert help and advice.