Many Seniors Think They See Better Than They Actually Do

A Swedish study in Acta Ophthalmologica suggests older adults could improve their vision by getting glasses or a new prescription, according to U.S. News & World Report . The investigators evaluated 1,200 70-year-olds and found while most were satisfied with their eyesight, many did not actually see as well as they believed they did. "Above all, it was reduced contrast sensitivity that made people think their sight was poor. Impaired visual acuity or visual field defects had less of an impact on how they perceived their own eyesight," said University of Gothenburg Professor Madeleine Zetterberg. The researchers estimated that 61.5 percent of participants could substantially improve their vision by getting glasses or changing the power of their current lenses. Both men and women tended to have glasses of incorrect power just as often, although men tended to have slightly better vision — possibly due to a higher frequency of cataracts among women. "Visual impairment can creep up on you, making it difficult to notice that your eyes are getting worse," noted Gothenburg's Lena Havstam Johansson. "So it's a good idea to visit an optician regularly when you get older, even if you don't feel your sight is deteriorating."