My family and I have had the most incredible opportunities to travel over the last two months for a business trip in Arizona, a family vacation in Mexico, and recently, my husband and I splurged for a lovely 22nd wedding anniversary getaway to Lake Michigan. We have all soaked in the beauty of the locations we visited, and we created beautiful memories in the process.
As I contemplate our travels and everything we saw and experienced on our trips, I can’t help but think about our senior clients and the many elderly individuals who deal with some level of vision impairment. I wonder if they reflect on their own memories of vacations and excursions, even though they can’t capture the same visual experiences as in their younger days.
I also wonder if they have stayed current with eye exams to prevent further deterioration of their vision.
I can’t emphasize the importance of staying current with senior eye examinations enough. Moreover, we can’t turn a blind eye to senior vision health.
My friends at the Village of Bloomingdale say, “Senior citizens are at greater risk for eye diseases. By age 65, 1 in 3 Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Most do not know it because there are often no warning symptoms or they assume that poor sight is a natural part of growing older.”
In as much as many seniors think that poor vision is simply a sign of aging, there are several conditions that cause visual impairment that often have treatment options available. Eye exams can accurately detect signs of disease, and a professional optometrist or ophthalmologist can offer the best solutions to help.
“Your risk for some eye diseases and conditions increases as you grow older, and some eye changes are more serious. Keep your eyes as healthy as possible by getting regular eye exams so any problems can be spotted early,” according to the National Institute for Health (NIH). They go on to explain these conditions further:
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
“(AMD) can harm the sharp, central vision needed to see objects clearly and to do common things like driving and reading. Your eye care professional will ask about your family history and look for signs of AMD during a dilated eye exam. Treatments are available, and special dietary supplements can help lower your chance of it getting worse,” says the NIH.
Cataracts
“Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye’s lens causing blurred or hazy vision. Some cataracts stay small and don’t change your eyesight much. Others become large and reduce vision. Cataract surgery can restore good vision and is a safe and common treatment. If you have a cataract (that impairs your vision), your eye care professional will watch for changes over time to see if you would benefit from surgery.”
Diabetic Retinopathy
“(This) may occur if you have diabetes. It develops slowly, often with no early warning signs. If you have diabetes, be sure to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control can prevent diabetic retinopathy or slow its progress in early stages. Laser surgery in later stages can sometimes prevent it from getting worse.”
Glaucoma
“Glaucoma is usually caused by too much fluid pressure inside the eye. If not treated, it can lead to vision loss and blindness. People with glaucoma often have no early symptoms or pain. You can help protect yourself by having dilated eye exams yearly. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops, lasers, or surgery.”
Maybe eyeglasses will be all that is needed to improve a senior’s vision. Perhaps, cataract surgery will be an option to restore vision and visual health. All I know is, eye exams are necessary to protect seniors, their visual health, and their quality of life for as long as possible!
FYI: The Village of Bloomingdale is in collaboration with Lions Clubs International to provide FREE eye exams for seniors in need.
“Healthy eating and regular eye exams can reduce the risks of eye diseases. The Lions Clubs International has joined with EyeCare America and Prevent Blindness America to promote the importance of eye exams for seniors. Many seniors may qualify for a free eye exam. For more information, visit the EyeCare America Seniors EyeCare Program (PDF) or call 866-324-3937 (EYES).”
I am more than grateful to have seen all that I have in my life, especially with my family. Considering August is National Eye Exam Month and Home Helpers® has many clients with visual impairment, I believe we must be advocates for seniors and the elderly, provide transportation assistance to eye doctor appointments, and support those with visual challenges in any way we can to protect their independence and quality of life.
If you have a senior loved one whose vision is compromised and they have difficulties with navigating their home, taking care of personal hygiene, safely managing housekeeping tasks or preparing meals, our compassionate caregivers are highly trained and skilled to deliver exceptional, compassionate, customized care and support 24/7/365, to help seniors live their best life!
I gladly offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific details about the in-home care services you or your visually impaired senior loved one needs, and I promise to see to it that we make life easier and of the utmost quality 24/7/365!
Home Helpers® Naperville & Wheaton is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for veterans and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2022, as well as the2022 Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a loved one: 630.800.3837
Sources:
Village of Bloomingdale
National Institute for Health
