Night Vision Changes After 40

As you get older, new things happen in your eyes. And they can have an impact on your ability to see clearly at night. Here’s a look at what night vision changes to expect, and how to manage them.

You probably expected your vision to change as you got older. Many people wait for the unwelcome day when they need help to read small print on a menu in a dimly lit restaurant. Even as you braced for some fuzziness, though, these changes can still come with surprises.

Many people, for example, don’t expect aging to have such a significant impact on their night vision.

If you’ve noticed changes to your ability to see at night, come see our team at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates. With eye exams to figure out the right support — like eyeglasses to fight glare when you’re driving at night — we can help you see your best even after sunset. Visit us in Aiea, Hawaii, so that Dr. Endo and our team can help you account for any night vision you’ve lost.

What’s happening to your eyes

After age 40, your eyes start to change. A lot of people, for example, develop presbyopia (age-related farsightedness). This means needing reading glasses to see things that are close by.

That’s not the only change, though. Eyes often get drier with age, which can make your vision blurry. When light is low, that blurriness often gets particularly problematic.

On top of that, changes in the lenses of your eyes can make glare issues worse. At night — and especially when you’re driving — your eyes might have more trouble focusing light. The glare often makes it a challenge to be behind the wheel after dark.

Additionally, even if you don’t have cataracts yet, if they start, they can affect your night vision. As the lenses in your eyes slowly cloud over, it makes it harder for light to get in and focus properly.

All told, there are quite a few ways that age-related eye changes can make it harder to see at night. Fortunately, if you’ve been having night vision problems, you can take some steps to help.

How to get better night vision

Visit our team here at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates and we can evaluate your eyes. Tell us about any changes in your vision that you’ve noticed at night, too. This allows us to create a plan to help you see better which may include some focus on your nutrition.

Low zinc and vitamin A can directly contribute to night vision, so introducing more of these nutrients may help. Our team offers nutrition counseling to support your vision.

We might also recommend specialized eyeglasses for night driving. When you have glasses with an anti-glare coating, you can alleviate some of the difficulty with age-related eye changes.

You’re not stuck with difficulty seeing after dark. To get personalized support for your night vision, call us or book an appointment online today.