Even as a callous young person, I saw the aesthetic value of many of the consequences of aging. Crows’ feet and other wrinkles are lovely in their own way, age spots are interesting, weight gain/redistribution only merits a tolerant shrug, and so on.
But that faded look in old people’s eyes always made me sad. However, I don’t seem to see that as much now. Is it my imagination, or do first-world people now get to keep their vibrant eye color into old age thanks to intraocular lens (IOL) transplants?
I had to google around, as it is a little complicated. Many medical web sites say that our eye color either doesn’t change at all, or slightly darkens with age as our eyes gain a little extra melanin in response to the sun. And that any other color change is indicative of disease.
So, case closed.
However, “disease” I guess is a broad term, as, on further googling, I found arcus senilis, which is both extremely common in the elderly, and benign.
In terms of the OP’s sentiment, I disagree. In terms of appearance I don’t mind looking older, but looking less attractive has consequences. So I don’t mind my graying, thinning hair, but my sagging face and belly are more of an issue.
Eyes getting washed out I would classify with gray hair.
Colors fade as cataracts in the lenses grow worse. That is, the perception of colors fades. Hues become more dull, more dark, more grey with time, as the lenses are becoming more opaque. Many cataract patients are quite surprised after surgery by how bright and colorful their world is again.
Iris color doesn’t change much. Corneas become opacified in some folks, or develop a ‘senile arcus’ ring around them, and that may make it harder to see iris color.
Yep, I was expecting an improvement in vividness as a result of my surgery - even knowing what was in store it was still a pleasant surprise. The bathtub looked so clean and bright, instead of dingy!
And btw, artificial lenses go in behind the irises, so they won’t change how the irises look. A corneal opacity can cover up the iris and obscure it, but that’s not a cataract. Corneal transplants can improve those situations