Vision through Healthy Aging Eyes

Abstract

As life expectancy grows, so too will the number of people adversely affected by age. Although it is acknowledged that many conditions and diseases are associated with age, this mini-review will present a current update of the various visual changes that generally occur in healthy individuals disregarding the possible effects of illness. These alterations influence how the world is perceived and in turn can affect efficiency or the ability to perform ordinary daily tasks such as driving or reading. The most common physical developments include a decreased pupil size and retinal luminance as well as changes both in intercellular and intracellular connections within the retina along the pathway to the visual cortex and within the visual cortex. The quantity and the physical location of retinal cells including photoreceptors, ganglion and bipolar retinal cells are modified. The clarity of intraocular organs, such as the intraocular lens, decreases. These all result in common visual manifestations that include reduced visual acuity, dry eyes, motility changes, a contraction of the visual field, presbyopia, reduced contrast sensitivity, slow dark adaptation, recovery from glare, variation in color vision and a decreased visual processing speed. Highlighting these prevalent issues as well as current and possible future innovations will assist providers to formulate treatments and thereby conserve maximum independence and mobility in the modern mature population.

Experimental Study: Children’s Perceptions Expressed Through Drawings and Coloring

“…The way we perceive colors changes as we age. First, there is an increase in the accuracy of color discrimination between the ages of two and six, but it is not generally until age fifteen that youth can discriminate colors as accurately as adults (Erdinest et al, 2021; Trifunović et al, 2014, 2017; Vivaldi & Salsa, 2021). Children up to age three tend to prefer bright, primary colors over pastels, and they favor bright luminous colors such as red, orange and yellow (warm colors), with red most preferred during early preschool years (Erdinest et al, 2021; Trifunović et al, 2017; Vivaldi & Salsa, 2021).…”

“…First, there is an increase in the accuracy of color discrimination between the ages of two and six, but it is not generally until age fifteen that youth can discriminate colors as accurately as adults (Erdinest et al, 2021; Trifunović et al, 2014, 2017; Vivaldi & Salsa, 2021). Children up to age three tend to prefer bright, primary colors over pastels, and they favor bright luminous colors such as red, orange and yellow (warm colors), with red most preferred during early preschool years (Erdinest et al, 2021; Trifunović et al, 2017; Vivaldi & Salsa, 2021). Second, color perception is not only a function of lightness, chroma, and hue, but also of factors such as viewing distance and angle, amount and type of ambient light, and presence of other colors in the immediate background and general environmental surround (Elliot, 2015; Hunt & Pointer, 2011).…”

Exploring Older Adults’ Nighttime Trips to the Bathroom Under Different Lighting Conditions: An Exploratory Field Study

“…Older adults’ visual system changes as they age, such as decreased pupil size and retinal illuminance, increased lens density, reduced contrast sensitivity, and others ( Erdinest et al, 2021 ). As a result, older adults experience a decline in visual capabilities; for example, older adults take longer to adapt to low-lit environments than younger adults ( Erdinest et al, 2021 ). The difficulty of adapting to the darkness can be a potential fall risk factor for older adults, for example, going to the bathroom at night ( Dionyssiotis, 2012 ).…”

Aging, light sensitivity and circadian health

“…Animal and human work indicate an age-related clouding and yellowing of the natural crystalline lens, increase in lens absorption, and reduction in pupil size and lens transmittance, as well a reduction in the number of photoreceptors and cells within the retina and the visual cortex [ 5 ]. Consequently, there might be a reduction in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual processing speed, among others [ 5 ].…”

“…Animal and human work indicate an age-related clouding and yellowing of the natural crystalline lens, increase in lens absorption, and reduction in pupil size and lens transmittance, as well a reduction in the number of photoreceptors and cells within the retina and the visual cortex [ 5 ]. Consequently, there might be a reduction in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual processing speed, among others [ 5 ]. Importantly, the effects of aging lens extend beyond vision as the reduction of photic input to the SCN may elicit downstream effects, such as alterations in neuroendocrine and alerting responses to light, as well as changes in e.g., motor skills and mood (see Figure 1 for a schematic).…”