A poll of 900 adults aged 60 and over found 73% couldn’t do everything they wanted to when growing up because of financial constraints. And 59% didn’t have time because of work commitments, while 37% lacked confidence.
Now, almost half of respondents (45%) never want to feel monotonous and stuck in a routine.
As a result, 31% are booking spontaneous holidays, and 13% have attended their first music festival in their sixth decade and beyond. A brave 8% are even eyeing up the chance to scuba dive for the very first time.
The research, commissioned by eye surgery specialist Newmedica ahead of National Eye Health Week (23-29 September), found 45% are afraid of losing their independence because of things like their eyesight deteriorating.
Eye surgeon Nigel Kirkpatrick said: “Our research shows how much opportunity there is to live life to its fullest as you get older, and how looking after your health and maintaining good eyesight can give you a greater quality of life.
“If you don’t have your sight, even simple tasks can be a challenge – having good-quality vision shouldn’t be an afterthought, even as you get older.
“You should be able to enjoy every moment without compromising, and taking care of your vision means it will stand the test of time for longer.”
The study found 47% want to alleviate as many worries as possible when it comes to their health so they can enjoy every day in the future.
Almost six in 10 (57%) want to keep trying new things to positively impact their mental health. Over half believe it will improve their cognitive abilities as they get older and 79% think their quality of sight is intrinsically linked to their quality of life.
Of those polled, via OnePoll, 66% have found their eyesight has grown worse as they’ve aged, with 58% of these claiming this has stopped them exploring new challenges.
A separate piece of research, backed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, estimates 30% of people aged 65 years or older will develop a visually impairing cataract in one or both eyes.
Mr Kirkpatrick, from Newmedica, which provides lens replacement treatment, added: “How we live our life is heavily dictated by our health, so it’s important to put it first.
“Cataracts are a common condition which affect a number of older adults, but our research showed that more than three-quarters of people of people over 60 are unaware there are solutions available to help correct this.
“You can’t expect your health or your eyes to just take care of itself and, like with anything, getting the best quality of care will give you the best results and last longer.”