What Are the Most Common Eye Problems in the Elderly?
As we get older, it is natural for our eyes and vision to change. You may find it harder to focus on close-up objects, need more light when reading or notice that your eyes feel drier than they once did. While some changes are a normal part of ageing, others can be signs of an underlying eye condition that needs closer attention.
Understanding common eye problems in the elderly can help older adults recognise changes sooner and seek appropriate assessment. Maintaining good vision is important for everyday activities such as reading, driving and moving around safely, as well as supporting independence and quality of life.
Many eye conditions can be treated or monitored, and identifying changes early can help guide appropriate care. In this guide, we look at several important conditions affecting older adults, including cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, as well as when changes in vision should be assessed by an eye specialist.
How Ageing Affects the Eyes
Some changes to vision are a natural part of getting older. One of the most common is presbyopia, where the eye gradually loses some of its ability to focus clearly on nearby objects. This is why reading small print or using a phone up close can become more difficult with age.
Other changes can also affect everyday vision. Pupils may become smaller and let less light into the eye, meaning brighter lighting may be needed for reading or detailed tasks. Tear production can decrease, contributing to dry or irritated eyes, while changes within the eye can make it harder to distinguish certain colours as clearly as before.
These changes do not necessarily mean that an eye disease is developing. However, blurred or changing vision can also be associated with conditions affecting the lens, retina, optic nerve and other structures that make up the anatomy of the eye.
Regular eye examinations for seniors become increasingly valuable with age because conditions such as glaucoma can develop before obvious changes in vision are noticed. An examination can help distinguish expected age-related changes from problems that may require monitoring or treatment.
Cataracts – A Common Age-Related Eye Condition
A cataract develops when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts are strongly associated with ageing and can gradually interfere with the way light passes through the lens, affecting the quality of your vision.
Common changes can include cloudy or blurred vision, increased sensitivity to glare, colours appearing less vivid and greater difficulty seeing or driving at night.
Cataracts can be identified during an eye examination, where the ophthalmologist assesses your vision and examines the lens and other structures of the eye. If a cataract begins to significantly affect everyday activities, surgery may be considered.
For patients considering cataract surgery in Perth, Murdoch Eye Centre uses small-incision phacoemulsification to remove the cloudy natural lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Measurements are taken beforehand to calculate an appropriate IOL power for the individual patient. Like any eye surgery, the procedure carries potential risks, which are discussed as part of the assessment and treatment process.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Increased pressure inside the eye is commonly involved, although glaucoma can also occur when eye pressure is within the normal range.
One reason glaucoma is particularly important to detect early is that the most common form, chronic open-angle glaucoma, can develop gradually without obvious symptoms. Peripheral vision may begin to deteriorate before a person becomes aware that anything is wrong.
Risk increases with age, and factors such as a family history of glaucoma and higher-than-normal eye pressure can also increase the likelihood of developing the condition. Regular eye examinations can therefore include eye-pressure measurements and assessment of the optic nerve. At Murdoch Eye Centre, glaucoma reviews may include automated visual-field testing as well as OCT or HRT imaging. These tests help assess the optic nerve and retinal nerve-fibre layer over time.
For people requiring glaucoma treatment in Perth, management may include prescription eye drops, laser treatment or surgery, depending on the type and severity of the condition. Existing vision loss from glaucoma cannot be reversed, so early detection and ongoing monitoring are important for helping to slow further damage and protect remaining vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Over time, diabetes can damage the small blood vessels within the retina, causing them to leak fluid or, in more advanced cases, encouraging abnormal new blood vessels to develop.
One of the challenges with diabetic retinopathy is that there may be no pain or noticeable symptoms in its early stages. As the condition progresses, blurred vision can occur, particularly when fluid affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision.
For people with diabetes, regular retinal examinations are important even when vision appears unchanged. Murdoch Eye Centre can assess the retina using dilated examinations and imaging such as OCT, helping identify and monitor changes over time.
Depending on how the eye has been affected, diabetic retinopathy treatment may include laser treatment, injections or vitrectomy surgery in selected cases. Regular retinal monitoring is also important alongside ongoing diabetes care, helping eye changes to be identified and managed as they develop.
When Should Older Adults See an Eye Specialist?
Some changes develop gradually and should be discussed at an eye examination, while sudden symptoms such as vision loss, eye pain or new flashes and floaters may require more prompt assessment. Older adults should seek advice from an eye specialist if they experience warning signs such as:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Double vision
- Persistent blurred vision
- Eye pain
- Flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters
- Increasing difficulty seeing at night
- A noticeable change in how much light you need, particularly when it occurs alongside other changes in vision
New flashes or a sudden increase in floaters can be particularly important to investigate, as these symptoms can sometimes be associated with retinal tears or other retinal problems.
A comprehensive eye examination can assess more than visual clarity. Depending on the patient, this may include eye-pressure measurement, examination of the retina and optic nerve, visual-field testing or OCT imaging.
Why Choose Murdoch Eye Centre
Murdoch Eye Centre assesses and manages conditions including cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy from consulting rooms in Murdoch and Subiaco.
Care is led by ophthalmologist Dr Phillip McGeorge, who holds MBBS, FRACS and FRANZCO qualifications. He completed his medical education at the University of Western Australia and specialist ophthalmology training at Royal Perth Hospital, and has more than 25 years of ophthalmic surgical experience.
Assessment and treatment recommendations are based on the individual patient’s eye health, symptoms and test results. Chronic conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease can also be monitored over time to identify changes that may require further management.
Protecting Your Vision as You Age
Many eye problems become more common as we get older, but changes in vision should not simply be dismissed as part of ageing. Routine eye examinations can help identify changes that may not yet be causing noticeable symptoms, allowing appropriate treatment or monitoring to begin where needed.
If you or an older family member has noticed changes in vision and would like to see an eye specialist in Perth, book an assessment with Murdoch Eye Centre. Dr Phillip McGeorge can examine your eye health, identify any underlying concerns and recommend appropriate treatment or ongoing care to help protect your vision and independence.
