Interactive Leonardo: The 50s |
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The Senses: Changes to Expect in Your 50s
Did you know that you can help safeguard your vision through healthy dietary choices? (And we don't mean carrots!) Read on for more...
Vision
Physiological changes in the eyes that are related to aging may lead to the following common conditions:
- Due to a thickening of the lens of the eye, it's harder to see at night and it's more difficult to focus, especially for close objects. Presbyopia, or the loss of the ability to focus up close, is the most common eye problem for people in their 50s.
- Dry eyes are caused by a lack of tears or by an alteration in the composition of tears.
- Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) sometimes develops as early as the 50s. ARMD affects a small part of the retina, the macula. Located in the middle of the retina, the macula controls central vision. The chief symptom is blurred central vision, which can become progressively worse and ultimately lead to the inability to read. Although ARMD rarely progresses to complete blindness, it often leads to functional blindness.
Hearing, Taste, and Smell
Other changes in our senses during the 50s may include a slight loss of hearing. Hearing diminishes in men more rapidly than it does in women, especially for higher tones. The possible effects of aging on taste and smell are unclear as of yet. Many studies find that some people retain much of their sense of taste and smell well into maturity. Smoking and drinking, however, are known to desensitize taste buds and suppress the sense of smell. Next Page >
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