Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

Age-Related Decreases in the Prevalence of Myopia: Longitudinal Change or Cohort Effect. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2000, Vol.41, 2103-2107.

"Results from studies conducted nearly 20 years apart indicate that the prevalence of myopia decreases after approximately age 45 to 50 years as part of the aging process. There is some evidence for a physiologic basis for such a change, namely a decrease in the equivalent refractive index of the crystalline lens reported in recent biometric studies of older adults. 6 The radii of curvature of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the crystalline lens are reported to steepen with age, with accompanying increases in the thickness of the crystalline lens and decreases in the depth of the anterior chamber. 6,7. Each of these effects would create a more myopic refractive error if all other parameters remained constant, the first being the most important."


6) Change with age of the refractive index gradient of the human ocular lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995;36:703–707

7) The change in lens curvature with age. Exp Eye Res. 1974;19:175–183.


My personal numbers

2008
-4.50
-3.25

2009
-3.50
-3.00

2010
-3.50
-2.50

2011
-3.25
-2.50

2013
-3.00
-2.50

2015
-2.75
-2.25

I have worn glasses since I was a very young child. Around the age of 50, they started to improve. The difference in my distance vision between 2008 and today has been dramatic. During the same period, because of these same changes, my ability to see things close up (reading) has gotten worse

JeffN wrote:I have worn glasses since I was a very young child. Around the age of 50, they started to improve. The difference in my distance vision between 2008 and today has been dramatic. During the same period, because of these same changes, my ability to see things close up (reading) has gotten worse

Thanks, Jeff. In my op I describe similar changes, so no surprise here (I'm 57). The changes I've noticed which I can't measure, but seem very noticeable to me, are light sensitivity and adjustment to light/dark changes. Anecdotal for sure but quite noticeable. I'm not sure if these sorts of changes can be measured or are part of regular eye exams and I have no baseline to compare to anyway. It seems to me that as we age, eye health seems to be more about macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, etc. Would you agree?

Doug_ wrote: (...) I had an eye exam, where after the exam my contacts prescription went from -4.50 to 4.00 in both eyes. No more headaches.

Nice, thank you!

Thanks Jeff, impressive improvements indeed - I guess there's hope as one ages, regardless of diet. At least I know my -7.00/-6.00 won't be getting any worse.

JeffN wrote:
My personal numbers

2008
-4.50
-3.25

2009
-3.50
-3.00

2010
-3.50
-2.50

2011
-3.25
-2.50

2013
-3.00
-2.50

2015
-2.75
-2.25

I have worn glasses since I was a very young child. Around the age of 50, they started to improve. The difference in my distance vision between 2008 and today has been dramatic. During the same period, because of these same changes, my ability to see things close up (reading) has gotten worse

I missed my 2017 appointment but had one today and again, my vision improved.

2019
-2.25
-1.75


In health
Jeff

MINNIE wrote:Mine has improved, although I'm not sure it's diet related.

I asked my optometrist at my last yearly vision exam, and she said that it's normal to see myopia improve as people age regardless of lifestyle. She did say that my eyes looked very healthy, and that it can be diet-related. She also recommends that patients eat leafy greens and other fruits and vegetables for general eye health.

I needed to get a weaker prescription for my glasses, so whatever the reason I am pleased with that:).

My father had, and my sister and I have, pretty severe myopia. My father said in his later years that it seemed like he didn't even need his glasses anymore. I suspect that that was quite an exaggeration, but I think it may be an example of what your optometrist says is normal with myopia as we age. I haven't noticed it in my own vision, but I have other vision problems.

No, but my hair got a lot grayer.

JeffN wrote:

JeffN wrote:

2008
-4.50
-3.25

2009
-3.50
-3.00

2010
-3.50
-2.50

2011
-3.25
-2.50

2013
-3.00
-2.50

2015
-2.75
-2.25

I have worn glasses since I was a very young child. Around the age of 50, they started to improve. The difference in my distance vision between 2008 and today has been dramatic. During the same period, because of these same changes, my ability to see things close up (reading) has gotten worse

I missed my 2017 appointment but had one today and again, my vision improved.

2019
-2.25
-1.75

In health
Jeff

2022
- 2.00
-1.25

2024
- 1.25
- 1.00

The trend continues.