Why is my eyesight getting worse?

If you wear glasses, but your eyesight is still getting worse, this can be frustrating. There could be a few explanations. You may simply have an outdated prescription, and would benefit from a sight test and a different pair of glasses.

Alternatively, your sight deterioration may not have anything to do with your glasses. Issues like glaucoma, cataracts or diabetic retinopathy all affect your vision, but can't be improved by wearing glasses. You'll need the underlying causes to be treated.

Many things can make your eyesight worse. Some things are inevitable ‑ such as getting older or your genetics. Others are simply bad luck ‑ such as an accident or developing a disease. Lifestyle choices can also have a role ‑ things like smoking or eating a poor diet can increase your risk of having bad eyesight.

Eyesight deterioration is a normal part of getting older. Many people first notice problems with their sight in their teenage years and twenties, and it tends to gradually get worse before stabilising in their mid‑20s. Then, from the age of about 40, most people start noticing further changes and their eyesight will deteriorate, before stabilising again in their 60s or 70s.

Eyesight can potentially get better, but it depends on what's causing the deterioration of your vision. Some issues ‑ such as cataracts ‑ can be treated, and this can result in you having much better vision. But other causes of eyesight deterioration can't be fully treated. However, by doing things like wearing glasses or making lifestyle changes, you can manage the symptoms or avoid them getting worse.

Learn more about cataracts

It's rare for your vision to improve with age, but there could be a couple of possible reasons. If you recently made a healthy lifestyle change (such as eating a more nutritious diet or quitting smoking), your eyes could be benefiting.

Another possible explanation is something called 'second sight'. It often happens to people who are developing cataracts and who were previously long‑sighted. As the condition progresses, their near sight improves. While it can seem like a positive thing, it needs to be checked by an optometrist as it can be a sign of eye health problems.

If your eyesight seems to be getting worse quickly it can be very worrying. It's important to work out how sudden the change is and whether it's dangerous. Some sudden sight loss happens in just a few hours or days, and can be a sign of rare but serious issues.

If your sight suddenly becomes very blurred, you notice lots of floaters and flashes or a 'veil' sliding across your eye, this could be a sign of a serious eye condition that could lead to permanent sight loss. On the other hand, eyesight deterioration can 'creep up' on you. For example, your eyesight might have just been gradually getting worse without you realising over a few months or years, but you only realised when you needed to do something unusual (such as reading subtitles on a cinema screen).

Yes, diabetes can affect eyesight. If it's not treated, it can cause partial vision loss or even blindness. An important factor is diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in your retina, the part of the eye that turns light waves into electric signals that get sent to your brain.

Learn more about diabetic retinopathy

UV light from the sun (or tanning machines) can damage eyesight in different ways. This light can damage the cells in different parts of your eyes, and increase the risk of cataracts, eye cancers, eye growths and snow blindness. Staying in the shade, avoiding the times of the day when the sun's strongest, and wearing sunglasses and hats can protect you against it.

Cloudy, misty or blurred vision could be a sign of cataracts, particularly in bright conditions or at night.

Learn more about cataracts

Astigmatism means the cornea has an uneven shape, which can blur your vision at all distances.

Learn more about astigmatism

Long‑sightedness, or hyperopia, means you can see things in the distance more clearly than close up.

Learn more about long‑sightedness

Myopia, or short‑sightedness, means you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant ones are blurry.

Learn more about myopia

Glaucoma is an eye condition that can damage your optic nerve and cause vision loss if it isn’t picked up early.

Learn more about glaucoma

If you have diabetes, it’s important to watch out for diabetic retinopathy which can cause vision changes.

Learn more about diabetic retinopathy

Vision that looks misty or hazy could be a sign of cataracts or another eye issue that needs checking.

Learn more about cloudy vision

Double vision means seeing two images of a single object, which can happen when the eyes are not aligned or working together properly

Learn more about double vision

Do your eyes feel sore, tried or gritty? Dry eye could be the cause, making vision cloudy, or as if you have filmy eyes. 

Learn more about dry eye syndrome

This is when the edges of your eyelids become inflamed due to an infection. It can also make the whites of your eyes appear pink or red. 
 
Learn more about blepharitis

Seeing specks, spots or sudden flashes of light? These are common – but can also be a sign of a serious eye condition. It is worth checking out if they’re new or getting worse.  

Learn more about floaters and flashes

A chalazion is a blocked oil gland in the eyelid that causes a firm, usually painless lump and can lead to eyelid swelling or blurred vision.

Learn more about chalazions