Just as the body changes with age, our eyes undergo changes too. Some of these vision changes can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery; some cannot. Most of these changes are normal, and are not caused by disease or illness. They can, however, cause problems by interfering with a wide range of everyday activities.

Vision Changes in the Aging Eye

The most common aging-related vision changes and their effect on everyday activities can include the following:

Increased sensitivity to glare

Being able to see clearly when exposed to reflected light or bright sunlight — especially outdoors on a sunny day or in a hallway with highly polished floors — requires filtered lenses or other adaptations to control glare and to see the environment clearly

Increased lighting requirements

Many older adults require three to four times more light than they did previously to perform certain types of everyday activities. Seeing clearly enough to read, write, sew, or perform home repairs usually requires a brighter, more focused light in addition to reading glasses or bifocals.

More time required to adjust to bright light and/or darkness

Difficulties adjusting to changes in light levels between bright and dark areas — such as leaving a dim building lobby and walking outside into bright sunlight or moving out of a dimly lit restaurant into daylight - can take two to three times longer than it used to.

Reduced contrast sensitivity

In the photo at left, it is difficult to see the white lamp and white bedding against the white wall and white table. Seeing an object clearly against a background of the same color becomes more difficult and requires stronger contrast to make it stand out.

Decreased ability to judge depth perception

Difficulties judging distances accurately — the height of a step or curb, or the depth of a bathtub, for example — requires close attention to safety cues such as color, contrast, and lighting.

Decreased ability to focus close up

As the eye muscles that control the switching of focus from far to near begin to lose flexibility, it becomes more difficult to focus on things close up. Reading a newspaper, writing, or sewing usually requires reading glasses to accommodate this change in focus.

Decreased color sensitivity

Telling certain colors apart becomes more difficult when matching clothing or playing card games. In particular, it is often difficult to distinguish navy blue from brown or black, blue from green or purple; and pink from yellow or pale green.

These are normal vision changes that occur as we age.