How Do You Design UX for Users with Aging Eyes and Blurred Vision?
As we move through life, our bodies evolve — and our vision is no exception. For many adults, a noticeable shift in eyesight begins around the early to mid-40s. If you’ve started holding your phone at arm’s length to read a message or need brighter lighting to enjoy your favorite book, you may be experiencing presbyopia.
What Is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. It’s a completely natural part of the aging process — not a disease — and affects nearly everyone to some degree as they age. It typically becomes noticeable between the ages of 40 and 60.
Common Signs of Presbyopia
If you’re in this age range and struggling with close-up tasks, here are the key symptoms to watch for:
- Needing more light than usual when reading
- Blurred vision at normal reading distances
- Holding books, phones, or menus at arm’s length
- Eye strain or headaches after reading or screen use
These changes are especially noticeable when using smartphones or reading small text on screens — a challenge many users experience without realizing there’s a name for it.
Adapting to Vision Changes
While presbyopia can’t be prevented, there are simple ways to adapt:
- Increase text size in your apps and device settings
- Use brighter lighting for reading and workspaces
- Wear reading glasses or multifocal lenses as recommended by your eye doctor
These adjustments make a significant difference in digital experiences — which is where Moveo One can help. By analyzing how users interact with digital content, our platform identifies subtle signs of visual or cognitive friction, such as increased zooming, long reading times, or screen abandonment. These behavioral cues can help teams design better, more accessible experiences for users at every stage of life.
Why This Matters for Digital Design
Understanding how vision changes with age isn’t just a medical issue — it’s a UX challenge. Digital products that aren’t optimized for aging users risk losing engagement and trust. That’s why Moveo One tracks behavior and interaction data in real time, helping you adapt your product for all users — including those experiencing age-related changes like presbyopia.
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Sources:
American Optometric Association – Adult Vision
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age
Cleveland Clinic – Presbyopia
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8577-presbyopia
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