ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Vision changes throughout life, but those changes do not always happen in ways people can easily recognize.
A child may not know the classroom board looks blurry. An adult may begin holding a phone farther away to read. An older person may blame glare or poor night vision on age without realizing an eye condition could be contributing.
Understanding what is common at different stages of life can help people notice changes, ask informed questions and seek appropriate eye care.
Children’s eye care: Supporting vision development
Vision continues developing during childhood, making early identification of problems important. Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, and strabismus, or eye misalignment, can affect how a child sees and learns.
Children do not always report blurry vision because they may assume everyone sees the same way. Parents and caregivers can watch for squinting, closing one eye, sitting unusually close to screens, frequent eye rubbing, headaches or difficulty reading.
A vision screening can identify possible concerns, but a comprehensive eye examination may be needed when a child has symptoms, fails a screening or has a family history of eye conditions.
Eye care for teens and young adults
School, work and recreation often bring increased screen use during the teen and young adult years. Extended periods of close-up focus can contribute to temporary eye strain, dryness, headaches and blurred vision.
This is also a common time for contact lens use. Contact lenses are medical devices and require proper handling. Wearing them longer than directed, sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight use or exposing them to water can increase the risk of irritation and infection.
Protective eyewear is also important during sports, yardwork, home projects and jobs involving tools, chemicals or airborne debris.
Vision changes in your 40s and 50s
Many adults begin noticing difficulty reading small print or focusing on nearby objects during their 40s. This common change, called presbyopia, occurs as the eye’s natural lens becomes less flexible.
Reading glasses, prescription lenses or contact lenses may help, but changing near vision should not be the only reason to pay attention to eye health. The risk of glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic eye disease increases over time. Some conditions can begin without obvious symptoms, even when vision seems clear.
Eye care for adults 60 and older
Later in life, people may experience more glare, reduced contrast, difficulty adjusting between bright and dim spaces or changes in color perception. Cataracts are common, but they are not the only possible cause.
Older adults also face a greater risk of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Diabetes and high blood pressure can affect the eyes as well.
Sudden vision loss, new flashes or floaters, severe eye pain, double vision or a curtain-like shadow in the field of vision should receive prompt medical attention.
Eye care should change as life changes
There is no single eye care plan that applies to every person or every age. Family history, medical conditions, medications, previous injuries and current symptoms can all affect the type and frequency of care someone needs.
Asheville Eye Associates provides comprehensive eye care for children and adults, along with specialty care for conditions involving the retina, cornea, glaucoma, cataracts and eye alignment. Understanding how vision needs change over time can help patients make eye health part of lifelong care.