According to the American Foundation for the Blind, 13.4 million American adults 65+ experience vision loss.
Some vision changes are part of the aging process. For instance, there’s presbyopia, in which the eye’s lens can no longer focus as sharply on nearby objects as it did before.
Vision impairment or loss, however, is a different story.
Even partial vision loss can affect one’s reading ability. Given that reading is integral to everyday activities, it’s vital to learn the signs that it’s time for reading glasses.
So then, how do you know if you need reading glasses?
In this guide, the caring team at Rittenhouse Village Gahanna, our senior living community offering independent living with supportive services in the naturally beautiful and serene city of Gahanna, OH, will answer that question. Please read on, as what you learn here can help you act promptly when it comes to age-related vision changes and senior eye health.
1. Are You Reading This With Your Face Very Close to the Screen?
If you experience reading difficulty and must put your face very close to the material (e.g., the screen of the device where you’re reading this article), you may have myopia. Also called nearsightedness, people with this condition can see things clearly if they’re near. However, the farther an object is, the blurrier it can get.
Myopia occurs because the eyes’ shape improperly bends or refracts light rays. So, instead of the images focusing on the retina, they focus in front of the retina.
The retina, located at the back of the eye, is a light-sensitive layer of tissue composed of many different cells, including light-detecting cones and rods (photoreceptor cells). Photoreceptor cells transform light into electrical signals and transmit them to the brain via the optic nerve for processing and interpretation as vision.
Myopia is typically not a problem related to eyesight or aging; on the contrary, it’s an eye condition often diagnosed in childhood or before the age of 20, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It can still occur in adults, though, as a result of age-related changes to the eyes’ structure, visual stress, or diseases like cataracts.
A Note on Cataracts
Cataracts refer to a disease in which the eyes’ natural lens turns cloudy, affecting vision and may potentially lead to blindness. The clouding results from the lens’ proteins breaking down, resulting in vision that is:
- Blurry
- Misty
- Hazy
Most cases of cataracts occur in older people. The National Institute of Health says that over half of all Americans 80 or older have this condition.
Uncorrected myopia can increase one’s risk for cataracts, and cataracts can make a person more likely to have nearsightedness. For these reasons, Gahanna seniors should pay close attention to any changes in their vision. While reading glasses may be enough for many cases of myopia, others may require surgery if their nearsightedness is due to cataracts.
2. Do You Have to Read This With Your Face Far From the Screen?
In that case, you may have farsightedness, the more common term for “hyperopia.” Like nearsightedness, farsightedness is a refractive error, but the vision problem it causes is the exact opposite. It makes objects that are up close blurry or hazy, while things farther away appear clear.
Hyperopia can affect people of any age, but it can also be due to age-related eye changes. Farsightedness due to advancing age is what you call “presbyopia.” As News-Medical.net explains, this condition is more prevalent in people 50 or older.
Reading glasses are effective for anyone, including older adults, who experiences hyperopia or presbyopia. Alternatives include contact lenses and, in more severe cases, surgery to correct the refractive error.
3. Do Your Eyes Feel Tired Often?
If you answered yes to this question, and the eye tiredness you experience occurs as a result of the following, reading glasses may benefit you:
- Reading a book, newspaper, magazine, or anything with fine print
- Using a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet
- Doing computer work
Tiredness often indicates vision problems like presbyopia, as the eyes must work extra hard to focus on nearby objects. As such, long periods of reading or computer work can make eyes with presbyopia feel strained or sleepy. Reading glasses can help make things appear more clearly, letting the eyes focus better without overexertion.
4. Do You Experience Frequent Headaches?
If you have headaches, especially after doing computer stuff or long periods of reading, you may have eye-strain-induced presbyopia. Reading glasses can help enhance your eyesight so that your eyes won’t have to work too hard (which may be why you have headaches).
With fewer vision worries and headaches to worry about, you can enjoy engaging in more Gahanna senior wellness living programs. For example, you can participate in more daily senior-centric activities and events, from exercise classes to arts and crafts and educational courses, all of which we offer here at Rittenhouse Village Gahanna.
5. Can’t You See Well in the Dark?
If so, you may have nyctalopia (night blindness). It’s the inability to see well in the dark or low-light conditions. Myopia, presbyopia, cataracts, and glaucoma are some of the top culprits behind this condition.
The good news is that reading glasses with anti-reflective coating can help with minor night blindness. They can also contribute to better management of other symptoms of eye conditions (e.g., blurriness or haziness). The better you can see, the more empowered you will likely feel to keep enjoying senior-friendly activities and experiences.
How Do You Know if You Need Reading Glasses?
From having nearsightedness to farsightedness or presbyopia, these are all possible answers to the question, “How do you know if you need reading glasses?” In these cases, glasses can help enhance vision and manage unwanted refractive error symptoms. Remember: The clearer your vision, the more enjoyable activities you can enjoy and the better you can see Gahanna’s incredible beauty.
Are you ready to enjoy everything Gahanna, OH, offers and live your golden years to the fullest? If so, we invite you to explore Rittenhouse Village Gahanna, offering independent living with supportive services! Here, residents enjoy an abundance of amenities, from daily activities to a well-stocked library, gourmet meals, and maintenance-free living.
Call us today to schedule a tour of our warm and loving senior living community!
