Age related changes in visual acuity

Abstract

Longitudinal visual acuity assessments of men, and cross-sectional assessments of men and women in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging are presented. The longitudinal data relate presenting far, uncorrected far, presenting near and uncorrected near visual acuities to age. The cross-sectional data relate presenting far acuity to age. The prevalence of cataract, glaucoma and retinal pathologies are reported for the longitudinal sample at the time of their last vision test. The effect of visual pathologies in general, and cataract in particular, upon presenting far visual acuity was examined. The longitudinal data are consistent with cross-sectional data from previously published reports. Older persons who were free from specific visual pathologies exhibited an age-related decline in presenting far acuity as did those with documented visual pathologies. Despite the demonstrated loss in acuity with age, the majority of persons maintain at least fair acuity (20/40 or better) into their 80's.

Determinants of visual quality after endothelial keratoplasty

“…39 According to Gittings and Fozard's report from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the majority of people retain distance acuity of at least 20/40 into their 9 th decade. 39 Increased recipient age has been shown to predict worse visual acuity post-EK in eyes without vision-limiting comorbidities.…”

“…39 According to Gittings and Fozard's report from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the majority of people retain distance acuity of at least 20/40 into their 9 th decade. 39 Increased recipient age has been shown to predict worse visual acuity post-EK in eyes without vision-limiting comorbidities. 94,102,133 Recipient age has been found to correlate positively with anterior corneal HOAs, 95,134 and there is evidence that age is a factor in the optical quality of the cornea post-EK.…”

Silent Reading as Determined by Age and Visual Acuity

“…The accommodative amplitude decreases as a result of changes in shape due to changes in the mechanical properties of the capsule and matrix. Also, the percentage of people suffering from eye pathologies, such as cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration or retinopathy due to diabetes mellitus is increased for older groups (Gittings and Fozard, 1986;Sloane and Kraut, 1975;Fozard et al, 1977). All of these would lower the quality of the optical image.…”

“…Consequently, with appropriate correction and regardless of pathology (Spear, 1993;Gittings et al, 1986;Owsley, Sekuler and Siemsen, 1983), and assuming that word recognition efficiency of poor acuity readers improves for larger characters, it is normally expected that the use of larger characters will result in higher reading rates. This expectation holds, as Rayner (1978) states, if the reading process in itself is not affected by the use of larger characters.…”

Mediating Age-related Cognitive Decline Through Lifestyle Activities: A Brief Review Of The Effects Of Physical Exercise And Sports-playing On Older Adult Cognition

“…In terms of functional risk, diminished visual functioning in normally aging adults has been identified as a contributor to an increased incidence of falls [39] and increased risk of motor vehicle accidents [36] as well as a conglomeration of difficulties in performing everyday tasks. Deteriorations in visual acuity [40], contrast sensitivity [41], motion perception [42], orientation discrimination [43] and visual processing speed [36] have been documented in normally aging individuals. Some changes in visual capacities may be attributed to optical changes, while others may be attributed to neurophysiological changes in the visual pathways within the brain.…”