Aging and the Special Senses

Sensory Problems

Most people experience problems with their sense of smell and taste until about age 50, due to gradual loss sensory receptor cells and their slower rate of replacement as we age.

Eye Problems: Presbyopia

A normal aging condition where the eye's natural lens loses flexibility, making it hard to focus on close-up objects

Eye Problems: Cataracts

A clouding of the clear natural lens inside the eye that blocks light and causes blurry or dim vision

Eye Problems: Age

With age, the sclera becomes thicker, more rigid, and yellowish or brownish due to long-term exposure to UV light, wind, and dust.

Eye Problems: Sclera Pigmentation

With aging, the sclera may develop irregular pigment spots, especially in people with dark complexions.

Eye Problems: Iris Aging

The iris may fade or develop irregular areas of pigmentation with age.

Eye Problems: Pupil

The muscles that control pupil size weaken with age, causing the pupils to become smaller and respond more slowly to light, making it harder to adapt from bright to dark environments

Eye Problems: Aging Brightness

Older adults may perceive objects as less bright because of age-related changes in the eyes.

Eye Problems: Age-Related Retina Disorders

Retinal disorders that become more common with age include age-related macular disease and retinal detachment.

Eye Problems: Glaucoma

Glaucoma can develop with aging as a result of the buildup of aqueous humor in the eye, which damage the optic nerve and can lead to permanent vision loss.

Eye Problems: Tears

Tear production may decrease with age, contributing to dry eyes, which results in dry eyes.

Eye Problems: Conjunctiva

The number of mucus-producing cells in the conjunctiva may decrease with age, contributing to dry eyes.

Eye Problems: Eyelids

The eyelids lose elasticity with age and may become baggy and wrinkled.

Eye Problems: Orbits

The amount of fat around the orbits may decrease with age, causing the eyeballs to sink deeper into the orbits.

Eye Problems: Perception

Visual sharpness, color perception, and depth perception generally decreases with age.

Hearing Problem

By about age 60, roughly 25% of people experience noticeable hearing loss, especially for high-pitched sounds.

Hearing Problem: Presbycusis

Presbycusis is the gradual, age-related loss of hearing in both ears, especially of higher-pitched sounds.

Hearing Problem: Presbycusis: Possible Cause

Presbycusis may result from damage or loss of hair cells in the spiral organ or degeneration of the auditory nerve pathway.

Hearing Problem: Tinnitus

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, occurs more frequently in older adults.

Hearing Problem: Vestibular Imbalance

Vestibular imbalance becomes more common with aging.