Aging and Vision Changes

 This section provides an overview of the aging process and associated vision changes. Included is information on eye health, vision loss, and preserving one’s sight in the senior years. Many sites have information about distinguishing between normal vision changes and warning signs of more serious conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

Below is a list of topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic.

Aging and Vision Changes

Aging and Vision Loss Fact Sheet, American Foundation for the Blind—Senior Site
General information about vision loss and older adults, including basic statistics, the impact of vision loss on health and well-being, and information on age-related eye diseases.

Seniors and Aging – Vision Care, Public Health Agency of Canada
Types of vision loss, their symptoms, and prevention measures.

Adult Vision: Over 60 Years of Age, American Optometric Association
Age-related eye and vision conditions, driving safely after 60, and dealing with vision loss.

Aging and Your Eyes, National Institute on Aging
Eye diseases and disorders and what can be done to protect vision; available in English and Spanish.

Common Causes of Vision Loss in Elderly Patients, American Academy of Family Physicians
A review of the four most common causes of vision impairment in the elderly: age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy.

How Does Vision Change with Age?, VisionAWARE
A description of the most common age-related vision changes and their effect on everyday activities.

Low Vision, National Eye Institute
Guidelines for determining whether you have low vision and suggestions for adjusting; available in English and Spanish.

Low Vision: A Guide, Macular Degeneration Foundation (Australia)
A 32-page guide to all aspects of living with low vision, including coping strategies, orientation and mobility, and dealing with depression. While resources are specific to Australia, most of the information is universal. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

Senior Low Vision Overview, Senior Resource
The most common causes of vision loss in seniors; tips for easing activities of daily life.

Vision Care Info-Sheet for Seniors, Public Health Agency of Canada
Eye-care suggestions for elders, a list of common age-related changes and causes of vision loss, and warning signs of serious conditions.

Vision Changes with the Aging Eye, The Eye Digest
A descipriont of the vision and other anatomic changes caused by the aging process.

Vision Health Warning Signs for Older Adults, Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
Warning signs for the four most common causes of significant, age-related vision loss.

- Back to top -

Aging & Vision: Organizations & Resources to Explore

AFB Senior Site, American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
A wealth of information for seniors with eye conditions, including vision loss, finding help and support, adaptations for the home, daily living, and recreation; numerous videos and message boards.

Seniors, National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Information on low vision, products, organization, and legislation that affect elders with vision loss.

VisionAWARE
VisionAWARE's "Self-Help for Vision Loss" web site "provides free, practical, hands-on information to enhance quality of life and independence for adults with vision loss…." Topics include eye disorders, rehabilitation services, independent living, and coping with vision loss.

Eye Digest, University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary
The Eye Digest provides free online access to the latest medical information on diseases of the eye.

Hadley School for the Blind
Online courses on a wide range of topics, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes.

Vision and Hearing, National Institute of Health, Senior Health
Diseases and conditions that affect vision and hearing.

Vision Loss, Alliance for Aging Research
Resources on age-related macular degeneration and other causes of vision loss; statistics and research on the economic impact of vision loss in the United States.

DisabilityInfo.gov
Comprehensive information on a wide range of disability-related topics, including employment, benefits, housing, transportation, health care, education, civil rights and technology; not specific to blindness and visual impairment, much of the information is relevant.

- Back to top -

Research: Aging & Vision Changes

Development and Validation of a Short-Form Adaptation of the Age-Related Vision Loss Scale: The AVL12, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
This article describes the uses of an abridged version of the 24-item Adaptation to Age-Related Vision Loss (AVL) scale. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Knowledge and Use of Low Vision Services Among Persons with Age-related Macular Degeneration, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
A study on older adults, and the correlation between their use of services and the severity of their vision loss.

Promoting a Message on Vision Loss to Diverse Groups of Adults, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
This study examines the effectiveness of information dissemination strategies in reaching individuals with vision loss, by age, gender, race, and degree of vision loss.

The Silver Book: Vision Loss, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
This 24-page booklet examines the cost of vision loss, describes innovative medical research on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

Vision Problems in the U.S.: Prevalence of Adult Visual Impairment and Age-Related Eye Disease in America, Prevent Blindness America
A study of the prevalence of eye diseases and conditions in America. The cost of adult vision problems is $51.4 billion, and visual impairment will double in the next 30 years.

- Back to top -