As we age, our vision changes. You may have trouble seeing things up close or it may take a little longer to adjust in low light. Because many eye diseases share similar symptoms (at least in the early stages), it can be difficult to determine whether you’re experiencing natural age-related vision decline or cataracts.

For this reason, it’s so important to follow the American Optometric Association’s recommendation of annual eye exams for anyone over the age of 60.

A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to determine the root cause of your vision changes. There are, however, some signs and symptoms that can clue you in as to whether you’re suffering from cataracts or another age-related condition.

Classic Cataract Symptoms

As cataracts progress, proteins in the lens of the eye start to break down and clump together, producing cataract symptoms that may include:. 

• Double vision: You may start seeing two images of one object. Double vision can also be caused by other issues, but if it only affects one eye, this is a likely sign of cataracts.
• Halos around lights: When driving or walking at night, you may notice that headlights and streetlights have a halo or starburst effect around them. This halo effect occurs because the cataract clouds the lens and causes light to scatter.
• Blurry vision: Cataracts can cause the center area of your vision to be blurry, dimmed or foggy. This blurry or foggy effect occurs because the proteins in your lens become cloudy and make it more difficult to focus any light that enters your eye.
• Muted or faded colors: Sometimes, cataracts can cause colors to appear dull or faded. This tinted effect is caused by the proteins that make cataracts cloudy, which have a brownish hue.
• Light sensitivity: An early symptom of cataracts is light sensitivity. When your eye lens isn’t clear, it causes incoming light to scatter. Along with the halo effect we discussed earlier, this scattering effect can also make you more sensitive to bright light.

Non-Cataract Age-Related Vision Changes

Several other types of vision changes are increasingly common as we age, including:

• Age-related macular degeneration, or ARMD. Like cataracts, ARMD can also cause central vision loss. However, peripheral vision remains unaffected.
• Glaucoma, which is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This condition results in a loss of peripheral vision and, if left untreated, may even cause total blindness.
• Dry eye syndrome, which can become a chronic problem and make it difficult to see clearly.
• Diabetic retinopathy, which can develop in individuals with diabetes. It occurs due to progressive damage to the blood vessels that nourish the retina.

While vision changes and eye diseases can develop at any stage of life, individuals over the age of 60 are at a higher risk. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help you and your eye doctor detect and treat these issues early on to preserve your vision as best possible.

To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.