When Do Your Eyes Stop Changing?

October 12, 2022

According to the American Optometric Association, an individual may get a new pair of eyeglasses each year. This is because vision continually changes. Vision will keep on changing until a certain point. By then, you can expect to wear a stable pair of prescription eyeglasses. If you want to know when your eyes stop going through changes, here are some details you should consider.

Factors of Changing Vision

Vision changes as young children grow. A lens prescription depends on specific anatomical factors. The length of the eye, as well as the curvature and shape of the cornea, can help create the eye’s prescription. The lens is not a factor in the prescription until later in the person’s life.

The length of your eye increases over time. This results in the continuous change of lens prescriptions. Normally, eye length increases a little to allow it to focus. Genetics influences the type of prescription you get. The eye condition that parents have will likely pass on to the children.

The environment also impacts the type of prescription that you get. Doing activities that are always close to the face increases your risk of developing nearsightedness. Spending little time outdoors also affects the type of lens prescription. Research shows that vision often stops changing at around 16 years old.

There Could Still Be Change Coming

In some cases, vision can keep changing. Professionals who need to study all the time have a higher risk of developing nearsightedness. The eye condition can keep worsening as the person approaches 20 years old. Beyond this age, you can enjoy a stable prescription for thirty years more. Your vision may still change a little more when you reach your 40s.

During your 40s, your vision may start changing again. Before this age range, your lenses are still flexible. Wearing contacts or glasses would help you see an object up close. As you age more, your lenses have more difficulty focusing on things up close.

You will find it necessary to move things farther from your eyes to see better. This technique will not help you focus for long. Progressive or reading glasses will be necessary for you to read when the time comes. This condition is called presbyopia.

Becoming More Farsighted

Your prescription will change a little again during your 40s and 50s. You become more farsighted. The change is not that significant, but it worsens. Low lens flexibility makes it more challenging to focus on things up close or while using a farsighted lens prescription. Presbyopia and farsightedness worsen. You will likely wear prescription glasses all day, every day.

When Cataracts Form

Reaching your 50s will become more difficult because your lenses will become more inflexible. They will also become cloudy. Cataracts start to develop. Your vision will become blurrier. The following will happen as cataracts form:
 

• Double vision at times

• Nighttime glare when there are lights

• Decreased ability to see in low-light areas

• Inability to see color well

For more on changing vision, visit Eye Associates of New York at our office in New York, New York. Call (212) 650-4888 to schedule an appointment today.