Eye Exams After 65: What Changes and What to Watch For
Our eyes change throughout life, and after 65 several conditions become more common. Many of them develop slowly and without pain, so you may not notice anything until vision is already affected. A yearly comprehensive eye exam is the best way to catch changes early, when they are easiest to manage.
Common changes after 65
- Cataracts. The lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, making vision hazy or dim and increasing glare, especially from headlights at night.
- Glaucoma. Damage to the optic nerve that often narrows side vision first, usually without symptoms early on. A visual field test helps find it.
- Macular degeneration (AMD). Changes in the center of the retina that can blur or distort central vision, making faces and reading harder.
- Diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, blood vessels in the retina can be affected long before you notice blurry vision.
- Dry eye. Tear production and quality often change with age, causing burning, grittiness or fluctuating vision.
Signs to get checked sooner
- Trouble driving at night or more glare from headlights
- Straight lines that look wavy or bent
- Bumping into things on one side
- Needing more light to read
- Any sudden change in vision, new flashes of light or a shower of floaters (call right away)
Driving and your license
Florida requires drivers 80 and older to pass a vision test at each license renewal, and drivers of any age who fail the screening at the driver license office need an eye exam and a completed state form. At our offices inside Visionworks, we do a comprehensive eye exam and a visual field test and complete your Florida vision form in about 30 minutes. See how the driver license vision test works.
What a comprehensive exam includes
We check how clearly you see with your best prescription, measure eye pressure, examine the health of the front and back of the eye, and can add Optos retinal imaging and visual field testing. If we find something that needs a specialist, such as cataract surgery, the doctor will explain your options and help with a referral.
Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Saturday at all of our offices inside Visionworks, and you can book at our Odessa and East Lake offices too.
Questions from former patients
How often should you get an eye exam after 65?
A comprehensive eye exam every year is generally recommended after 65, or more often if your eye doctor advises it because of a condition like glaucoma, diabetes or macular degeneration.
Can glaucoma be found before I notice symptoms?
Yes. Glaucoma often has no early symptoms. Eye pressure checks, an exam of the optic nerve and a visual field test help find it early.
Do I need an eye exam to renew my Florida license at 80?
Florida requires drivers 80 and older to pass a vision test at each renewal. You can take it at a driver license office or have an eye doctor complete the state vision form.