Men Over 40: The Eye Tests They Must Not Skip

Men will not talk about it, but you can see it if you look closely: blinking harder at the laptop late at night, holding the phone a little further away, rubbing their eyes during long meetings, or squinting at road signs during an evening drive home. They show up for work and family and constantly neglect their health, especially eye problems.

Many men push through blurry vision, ignore headaches, and delay changing their glasses until the day the screen turns into a haze. Dr Priyanka Singh, Consultant and Eye Surgeon, at Neytra Eye Centre, said that this pattern must change, especially for men above 40. She further shared why men, after crossing the age of 40, should not neglect the signs their eyes are giving and what eye tests are mandatory for them. Read in detail.

What Really Happens to Men’s Eyes After 40?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the most common change experienced by men is the need to hold reading materials further away from their eyes. This is called presbyopia. Almost all men develop this increasing farsightedness in their late 30s to mid-40s.

Another study reported, the eye’s lens becomes less flexible with age, making it harder to read and perform other near tasks. If this is left uncorrected, your eyes may easily become uncomfortable, leading to severe headaches and complete vision loss.

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“For men entering their 40s and 50s, this is the decade where eye diseases silently pick up speed,” explained Dr Priyanka Singh. She noted that while minor power changes are expected, the real concern is the risk of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These conditions often develop without noticeable symptoms.

“Men usually assume it’s just tiredness or ageing, but by the time they come in, significant damage may have already happened,” Dr Singh said. Even presbyopia, the common age-related difficulty in focusing on close objects, can mask other issues if not examined properly.

Dr Singh stated, “More and more men are dealing with digital eye strain, especially with long hours on screens. It’s becoming quite a common issue, but they neglect it until it turns into something severe.”

Eye Tests Every Man Over 40 Should Prioritise

Dr Singh emphasised that an annual comprehensive eye examination is essential. “A visit to an optical shop cannot replace a medical eye check-up. Power change is just one tiny part of eye health,” she said.

Doctors recommend getting your eye examination done every single year, especially if you are dealing with diabetic issues or any other chronic health illness, as these health conditions affect overall well-being, including your eyes.

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Discussing what key eye tests are necessary for men in their 40s, Dr Singh shared a few tests mentioned below:

• Dilated Eye Examination: This test detects early signs of AMD, glaucoma, and retinal disorders.
• Intraocular Pressure Test: This is important to rule out the possibility of glaucoma.
• Visual Acuity and Refraction: Doctors recommend this test for accurate correction and to detect sudden shifts in vision.
• Slit Lamp Examination: It helps in identifying cataracts, infections, corneal changes, and any signs of systemic diseases.
• Retinal Imaging (OCT/Fundus Photography): This test will provide insights into retinal and optic nerve health.

Factors That Accelerate Eye Problems

Dr Singh underlines a few factors that are accelerating eye problems in men:

• Increasing screen exposure
• Prolonged stress and anxiety
• Irregular sleep and late-night light exposure
• Junk food and inadequate nutrition
• Smoking and high UV exposure

Dr Singh highlighted, "Instead of visiting an ophthalmologist, men will walk into their nearest optical shop, pick up a new pair, and get back to life without ever checking whether something deeper is going on. However, this will not help with the root cause."

Dr Singh also mentioned that a diet rich in antioxidants, Vitamin A, C, E, Omega-3 fatty acids and timely medical check-ups can significantly reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

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Bottomline

Men often prioritise work deadlines and family commitments before themselves. But eye specialists warn that this pattern of neglecting eye strain can lead to irreversible vision loss if routine eye exams are skipped. Getting your eyes checked annually can save your vision and help you manage the symptoms early.