Eyesight as we age
Our eyesight evolves as we grow older
Our eyes and how we see change greatly as we age. When we are first born
our eyesight isn’t actually very good, being able to see and recognise
shapes, especially faces. A child’s eyesight continually develops over
the next 7 or 8 years, but rapidly over the first 2 years.
Sometimes the developmental process goes wrong and the eyes do not develop
as they should. Generally, if there are any problems the sooner they are dealt
with, the better. If some cases, if a problem is left undetected it may mean
the child has a defect which cannot then be corrected.
Babies and toddlers eyesight is normally screened as part of their developmental
checks, although these are not as thorough as an examination by an Optometrist.
At Leightons Opticians our fully qualified Optometrists can
use a number of techniques and child-friendly tests to assess your child’s
eye health and function. Although a more accurate assessment can be made once
the child can recognise shapes and letters, an eye examination can be performed
for any age.
If there are any eye problems in the family, especially among brothers and
sisters, or if you have noticed anything unusual, have your child’s eyes
checked as soon as possible.
During the first 12 years of our lives, up to 80% of our learning is visually
based. Many children struggle at school, simply because of eyesight related
problems. We have to remember that what a child sees is ‘normal’
for them and may not realise that others can see clearer.
There are a few tell-tale signs you can look out for, for example: does your
child sit close to the TV; do they rub their eyes repeatedly; do they complain
of headaches or blurred vision; do they squint? Children are entitled to a
FREE NHS eye tests every year up to
the age of 16. Have your child’s eyes assessed at your nearest Leightons
Opticians and minimise the possibility of an eye defect causing
a problem.
As children get older, turning into young adults, they become more fashion conscious and become more active. In most cases contact lenses can be considered as an alternative to spectacles, especially for occasional use. Modern contact lenses are comfortable and healthy for the eyes, and could be the solution for an active lifestyle.
Throughout our lives our bodies are continually growing and replacing cells. The same is true for the eyes. Generally our eyesight and prescription details remain relatively stable, with only subtle changes over time. Because of this, an eye examination is suggested every 2 years for adults between the ages of 16-60. At certain points in our lives, such as during pregnancy, changes to the body can cause changes to the eyes, and can be easily explained. Sometimes, the eyes appear to change for no reason. If you do notice any changes to what you can see, how your eyes look, or how comfortable they feel, have an eye examination with one of our friendly Optician.
The natural aging process means that the eyes do not function the same throughout all our lives. Around the age of 45, everybody’s eyesight begins to alter. You find close tasks harder to focus on and have to push things further away. You need more light to be able to read and you may even find yourself getting headaches when reading or using the VDU. This is a perfectly normal process called Presbyopia and is caused by the natural lens in your eye not being able to flex as it once did, causing near vision to seem blurred. It is easily solved by using reading spectacles, or special multifocal spectacles such as Varifocals or Bifocals.
The aging process in the eyes does bring with it certain changes. The optical
structures in the eyes become more opaque, leaving us needing more light to
see clearly, especially if there are any cataract changes happening to the
natural lens in the eye. The pupils of the eyes become smaller often making
it more difficult to see especially at night. Floaters increase with age causing
‘blobs’ to swim through the field of view. Often people find they
eyes seem to be dryer and more uncomfortable either on waking or last thing
at night. Diseases of the eyes are also more common, such as Glaucoma, Diabetes,
and Macular Degeneration
(AMD).
Most people have very few problems with their eyes. By using the correct spectacles,
having regular eye examinations at
your local Leightons Opticians, and by being aware of any
changes happening to your eyes and eyesight, you can help us, help you look
after your eyes.
