The visual difficulties on bright, sunny days and at night with oncoming headlights that the 75-year-old woman is experiencing are indicative of cataracts. Treatment for cataracts, particularly for individuals of her age group, is often simple and effective through surgery. Immediate consultation with an eye care provider is recommended for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The difficulty a 75-year-old woman is experiencing with vision on bright days and at night, particularly with oncoming headlights, is most likely due to cataract formation. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens that decreases the amount of light entering the eye, impairing vision.
Such visual difficulties are age-related, and cataracts are known to be responsible for 50% of all cases of blindness. Furthermore, the prevalence increases with age; about 60% of individuals aged 65 to 74 will develop cataracts.
It is important for the woman to seek evaluation from an eye care provider because if cataracts are the cause of her difficulties, treatment can be straightforward and successful through the replacement of the clouded lens with a plastic lens, restoring vision.
While other conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma can also affect vision, her specific symptoms align more closely with cataract characteristics. Additionally, visual disturbances caused by AMD tend to present as a black spot in the center of vision, which the woman did not report.