It shouldn’t be a surprise to you that most people’s eyesight changes and gets a little blurrier as you age. Most people see these changes starting in their 50s or 60s. However, sometimes your eyesight can change due to other reasons. Here are a few reasons why you might be seeing your eyes change other than aging.
You stare at screens for most of the day.
Whether you are looking at a computer screen or your phone, screen time puts you at risk for digital eye strain. Your vision may get blurry, or your eyes may feel tired from a large amount of screen time. This can happen because when people look at screens, they don’t blink as often as they should be. This can lead to eye irritation. A quick fix for digital eye strain is to make sure you look away from your computer every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.
You are pregnant.
Women’s bodies go through a lot of changes when they are carrying a baby. This includes visual changes. Blurriness and double vision can be very common during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can cause women to become near or farsighted until after the baby is delivered. Moms-to-be are also susceptible to dry eyes, leading to blurred vision or uncomfortable eyes if you wear contacts.
You wear your contacts too long.
The longer you wear your contacts, the dirtier they get. Dirt, mucus, and minerals can build up, causing your sight to become blurry. It’s important to remember to clean your lenses daily and replace them according to their scheduled usage. These days, most contacts that are on the market are either daily, biweekly, or monthly. For the cleanest and clearest vision, daily contacts are the way to go. Or take a break from your contacts, and put on your glasses for a few hours!
You have glaucoma.
The older you get, the more you are at risk for glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when there is a build-up of excess fluid in the eyes, and it causes damage to the nerve, which can cause blind spots to develop. While it’s more common for older people to develop glaucoma, it can occur at any age.
It’s important to get your eyes checked every two years between the ages of 18-60. After the age of 60, you should get an eye exam annually. Regular eye exams can help you keep up with the changing needs of your eyes.
