Poor close vision

By middle age (around 40-45) almost everyone needs glasses for near vision. This is one consequence of reduced flexibility of the eye. The normal aging process does not affect far vision.

Reduced lens flexibility in eye resulting in need for more light.

The same loss of lens flexibility means that functioning in dark environments (night driving, for example) becomes much more difficult. Similarly, moving from a very bright environment to a dimly lit one (walking into a dimly lit restaurant from bright sunshine) can be more difficult.

Reduced hearing

Older adults, particularly those who have long exposure to loud sound (rock concerts, working in a noisy factory), tend to lose hearing acuity, especially for the higher registers (for example, speech). They may have difficulty localizing sirens while driving, talking on the phone, or hearing in a restaurant with a lot of background sound.

Poorer balance

Although listed under sensory changes, this is actually a consequence of both sensory and physical change. Older adults take more time to adjust to change in position, but also have less strength to use to right themselves when they begin to fall. Walking downstairs, walking on icy, or wet-pavement, dealing with uneven surfaces can all cause problems.