7 Simple Ways to Protect Your Vision After 50

As we get older, some changes in vision are common. Reading small print may become more difficult, colors may seem less distinct, and your eyes may take longer to adjust when moving between bright and dim spaces. But significant vision loss should not simply be accepted as an unavoidable part of aging.

The risk of conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy increases with age. Some of these conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms at first, which is why protecting your eyesight involves more than waiting until something seems wrong.

Fortunately, many of the habits that support your overall health can also help protect your eyes. Here are seven practical steps to help keep your vision as strong as possible after 50.

1. Make Regular Dilated Eye Exams a Priority

One of the most important things you can do for your eyesight is surprisingly simple: have your eyes examined regularly.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam allows an eye-care professional to look inside the eye for signs of diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. Many eye diseases have few or no symptoms in their early stages, so you may not realize a problem is developing.

How often you need an exam depends on your age and individual risk factors. The National Institute on Aging recommends that adults over 50 have a dilated eye exam every year or as recommended by their eye-care professional. The National Eye Institute advises people over 60 and certain higher-risk groups to have one every one to two years, while many people with diabetes or high blood pressure need an exam at least annually.

The important point is not to wait until your vision changes before making an appointment.

If you have not had a comprehensive eye exam recently, ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist what schedule is appropriate for you.

2. Know Your Personal and Family Risk

Your age is only one part of your eye-health picture.

Family history can matter because conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can run in families. Diabetes and high blood pressure can also increase the risk of certain eye diseases.

Before your next eye appointment, consider asking relatives whether anyone in your family has been diagnosed with glaucoma, macular degeneration, or another significant eye condition.

Then tell your eye-care professional.

Also bring a current list of your medications. The National Institute on Aging notes that some medications can affect the eyes, making it useful for your eye doctor to know what you take.

Knowing your risks may help your doctor determine whether you need more frequent monitoring.

3. Protect Your Eyes From Ultraviolet Light

Sunglasses are more than a fashion accessory.

The CDC recommends sunglasses that block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation. The National Institute on Aging also recommends wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.

You do not necessarily need the darkest lenses available. What matters is the UV protection.

When shopping for sunglasses, look for labeling that says they block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays or provide UV400 protection.

And remember that UV exposure is not limited to hot summer days. Making sunglasses part of your everyday outdoor routine is an easy habit to maintain.

4. Take Care of Your Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar

Your eye health and overall health are closely connected.

High blood pressure and diabetes can affect the delicate blood vessels inside your eyes. Diabetes, in particular, can lead to diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss.

If you have diabetes, managing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol is an important part of protecting your vision. The CDC notes that controlling these factors can help prevent or delay progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Keep up with your regular medical care and follow the treatment plan recommended by your healthcare professionals.

If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, ask both your primary-care provider and your eye-care professional how frequently you should have a dilated eye exam.

5. Keep Your Glasses or Contact Lens Prescription Up to Date

Even small changes in vision can affect everyday tasks such as reading, driving, using stairs, and moving safely around your home.

The National Institute on Aging recommends having your glasses or contact lens prescription checked regularly. It notes that even relatively small vision changes can increase the risk of falls and injuries, which makes an accurate prescription especially important as we get older.

If you already wear corrective lenses, bring them to your eye appointments and let your eye-care professional know if you have noticed changes such as:

• More difficulty reading small print
• Blurry distance vision
• Trouble seeing clearly at night
• Headaches or eye strain
• Needing brighter light to read comfortably

Sometimes the solution may be as simple as updating your prescription. Other changes may need further evaluation to rule out an eye condition.

The National Eye Institute notes that a dilated eye exam can identify refractive errors as well as signs of eye disease, so regular eye care helps address both clearer vision and long-term eye health.

6. Eat and Move for Your Eyes as Well as the Rest of You

There is no single miracle food that guarantees healthy eyesight.

But an overall healthy lifestyle supports your eyes along with the rest of your body.

The CDC recommends eating dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens and fish containing omega-3 fatty acids as part of a vision-supportive diet. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying physically active are also included in federal eye-health recommendations.

Instead of worrying about a special “eye diet,” focus on habits that are sustainable:

• Include vegetables regularly.
• Eat a varied diet.
• Stay physically active.
• Work toward a healthy weight for you.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

These habits support far more than your eyesight, which makes them especially valuable for healthy aging.

7. Protect Your Eyes During Everyday Activities

Some vision problems come from disease. Others come from injuries that might have been prevented.

Wear protective eyewear when doing activities that could send debris or chemicals toward your eyes, including certain home repairs, yard work, painting, and sports. The CDC specifically recommends protective eyewear for activities that can injure the eyes.

Digital devices deserve attention too—not because ordinary screen use is known to cause age-related eye disease, but because long periods of close focus can contribute to eye strain.

For people who spend considerable time at a computer or concentrating on something up close, the National Institute on Aging recommends the 20-20-20 approach: about every 20 minutes, look approximately 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

It is a small habit, but it gives your eyes regular breaks from sustained close focus.

Why Vision Can Change After 50

One of the most familiar changes is difficulty focusing on things up close.

Presbyopia—the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus at close range—commonly begins between ages 40 and 50. Reading glasses or an updated prescription can often address it.

Other age-related changes can include needing brighter lighting, taking longer to adjust to changes in light, and having more difficulty distinguishing certain colors.

These changes are different from vision loss caused by eye disease.

That distinction is one reason regular eye exams matter: your eye-care professional can determine whether a change is simply a new glasses prescription or something requiring further evaluation.

And keeping your prescription current matters for more than reading. Even relatively small vision changes can contribute to falls and injuries in older adults.

When a Vision Change Should Not Wait

Some changes deserve prompt attention rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.

Contact an eye-care professional promptly if you experience symptoms such as:

• Sudden loss of vision or suddenly very blurry vision
• Many new floaters
• Flashes of light
• Eye pain
• Double vision
• Significant redness or swelling of the eye or eyelid

The National Institute on Aging identifies these as symptoms that warrant medical attention.

A sudden change is particularly different from the gradual need for stronger reading glasses.

When you are unsure, it is safer to contact an eye-care professional and describe what you are experiencing.

Medical Disclaimer

Healthy For A Lifetime provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact a qualified healthcare or eye-care professional about changes in your vision, eye pain, medications, chronic health conditions, or other concerns about your eye health.