What are some age-related changes in vision seen in older patients?
Answer
Older adults commonly have the following changes in their vision:
- Presbyopia, an inability to focus up close because of decreased elasticity in the ocular lens
- Narrowing of the visual field and more difficulty with peripheral vision
- Decreased pupil size and responsiveness to light
- Difficulty with vision in dimly lit areas or at night (requires more light to see adequately)
- Increased opacity of the lens, which causes sensitivity to glare, blurred vision, and interference with night vision
- Yellowing of the lens, which reduces the ability to differentiate low-tone colors of blues, greens, and violets (yellow, orange, and red hues are more clearly visible)
- Distorted depth perception and difficulty correctly judging the height of curbs and steps
- Decreased lacrimal secretions
Because visual accommodation decreases with aging, older adults have an increased risk of falling. An older person has difficulty making a visual adjustment when moving from a well-lit room into the evening darkness. For example, when stepping out of a dark area into the sunlight. The increased time needed to accommodate near and far, dark and light, is often the reason that older adults do not drive at night.
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