Why does eyesight deteriorate with age?
David Zacks, a retina specialist and assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, explains. Many of us think that as we grow older our eyesight is destined to deteriorate. We talk about “tired” or “old” eyes as if we are fated to have the gift of vision taken from us simply because we have aged. For example, in what might be the earliest reference to cataracts in the Bible (Genesis, Chapter 27, Verse 1) we learn that, “And it came to pass, that Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim…” The truth is that, with today’s treatment options, there is no intrinsic reason for our vision to worsen with time. In theory, we should be able to retain undiminished our capability to accept, process and experience visual sensory input. But, as with most conventional wisdom, there is an element of truth to the notion that age-related processes can affect our eyesight. The good news is that identifying and treating these processes can often re
