Top 11 Age-Related Eye Problems

2. Floaters

Those tiny specks, strings and squiggles are usually harmless, caused by normal age-related changes in the vitreous, a gel-like fluid that fills the back of our eyes. If floater changes are minor or gradual, there is less cause for concern. But if you notice an increase in the number of floaters — or a sudden onset — see your eye doctor pronto. It could be a warning sign of something more serious, such as a detached retina.

3. Cataracts

Cataracts are among the most prevalent eye conditions in older people. More than half of Americans 80 and older either have cataracts or had surgery to correct them.

The result of proteins in the lens breaking down as we age, cataracts can cause blurred or cloudy vision. You’re at higher risk if you:

• Are white (by age 80, 70 percent of white people have cataracts, compared with 53 percent of Black people, according to the National Institutes of Health).
• Have diabetes.
• Spent lots of time in the sun over the years.
• Use certain medications, such as corticosteroids.

If cataracts interfere with common activities, such as nighttime driving, your eye doctor may recommend surgery, trading the clouded lens for an artificial one.

4. Trichiasis

Trichiasis is a condition in which the eyelid skin loses elasticity and the eyelashes grow inward, toward the eye. The lashes can rub against the cornea or the conjunctiva (the thin inner surface of the lids), leading to irritation, redness, tearing, light sensitivity and corneal abrasion. Trichiasis can develop because of an eye infection or trauma to the eye.

Treatment includes manually removing pesky lashes using a forceps-like device, an in-office procedure. In certain instances, if your eyelashes insist on growing toward your eye, electrolysis or cryosurgery may be used.

5. Eyestrain

When your eyes get fatigued from overuse, they can feel dry, itchy, achy and tired — they may also sting. Driving long distances, uncorrected vision or struggling to see in dim light could be culprits, but perhaps the most common cause of eyestrain is extended use of digital devices.

Recent data suggests that two-thirds of people experience digital eyestrain from using their phones, computers or other devices for nearly 10 hours per day. (Working from home seems to make you more prone to eyestrain.) Discomfort usually eases once you rest your eyes. Other remedies include:

• Blinking more often.
• Following the 20-20-20 rule (for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
• Using lubricating eye drops.

6. Blepharitis

This strange-sounding name is for a very common condition in which the rims of the eyelids become inflamed. Blepharitis is believed to be associated with bacteria on the eyelid or dandruff, and it’s more frequent among people with skin conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis and rosacea. Although people of any age can have blepharitis, being over 50 puts you at a higher risk.

One of the major causes of blepharitis in the older population is the presence of demodex, microscopic mites that hang out in the follicles of the eyelashes. In a study of older adults, 70 percent had these mites, along with dryness, itching, irritation and pain.

In many cases, blepharitis can be controlled with:

• Daily washing near the lash line.
• Warm compresses.
• Addressing an underlying skin condition.

Oral antibiotic treatment may be needed if these methods don’t clear up the condition.

7. Watery eyes

The official medical name for watery eyes is epiphora. Changes associated with age, including eyelid drooping and blocked tear ducts, can make watery eyes more likely. Ironically, dry eye is also a frequent cause of watery eyes (the dryness prompts glands to produce more tears). In research on adults, more than half of people visiting a clinic with watery eyes were over age 60.

Treatment involves addressing dry eye or eyelid and/or tear duct surgery.

What are the more serious age-related eye problems?

8. Glaucoma

One of the leading causes of blindness in people over 60, glaucoma usually is the result of fluid not draining properly, leading to a buildup of pressure that can damage the optic nerve. Painless and stealthy — it’s referred to as the “silent thief of sight” — the condition affects 3 million Americans, but only half know they have it. Glaucoma often affects both eyes — though usually not at the same time — and can cause loss of peripheral vision and, with no intervention, total blindness.

Regular eye exams are critical, since blindness can be prevented with early treatment. Prescription eye drops and laser therapy can help to decrease eye pressure.  

9. Age-related macular degeneration

Another leading cause of vision loss, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects almost 20 million Americans. This disease damages the macula, at the center of the retina, responsible for our straight-ahead vision and most of our color vision. As the disease progresses, it can cause blurred or wavy vision and eventually central vision loss.

There are two kinds of AMD: dry and wet. Most people have dry AMD, in which parts of the macula become thin and small clumps of protein called drusen grow, clouding central vision. At late stages, this can turn into wet AMD, in which abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the macula and lead to fluid and blood leakage.

There is no known cure, but there are ways to lower your risk and, possibly, slow the disease’s progression, including maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking and protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Eye doctors look for AMD during a comprehensive vision exam. Certain types of AMD can be treated with injections of medication and photodynamic therapy, which uses a laser and a special medicine that works when exposed to a specific type of light. Low vision devices and lifestyle strategies (such as labeling items with colored stickers) can improve day-to-day functioning.

10. Diabetic retinopathy

A condition found in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy occurs when excess glucose damages blood vessels in the retina. One recent study estimated that nearly 10 million people in the U.S. have diabetic retinopathy, which amounts to 1 in 4 people with diabetes having the disease. The damaged blood vessels can swell and leak blood and other fluids into the retina, causing cloudy vision and sometimes floaters or blurriness.

As symptoms increase in severity, you may experience dark spots or empty areas in your vision, or even vision loss. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, get a dilated eye exam within five years; for those with type 2, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist or optometrist right away. Keeping your diabetes under control and monitoring your eye health through regular exams is the best way to preserve your sight.

11. Detached retina

This condition occurs when the retina separates from its underlying support at the back of the eye. As we get older, the vitreous (a gel-like fluid in our eye) undergoes a change in texture and shrinks; sometimes this leads to the retina becoming detached. Research shows that this becomes more common in our 50s and 60s. You may be more at risk for retinal detachment if you have:

• Diabetic retinopathy.
• A history of cataract surgery.
• An eye injury.

Retinal detachment isn’t painful, but the longer it goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss.

Retinal detachment is considered a medical emergency. If you notice warning signs — the sudden appearance of many floaters and flashes, diminished vision or the sensation of a shadowy curtain lowered over your eyes — contact an ophthalmologist right away. Your doctor can verify this via an eye exam. Treatment may include a freezing procedure or surgery, depending on how severe the case.