As a senior, you may already be wearing glasses or contacts for distance vision and using reading glasses for close work, and you may think that’s all you need to be concerned about. But certain vision conditions can seriously jeopardize your eyesight without noticeable symptoms. If you’re over 65, it’s important to schedule an eye exam with your ophthalmologist every one or two years. The sooner a problem is detected, the more likely it can be treated.
Some “silent” sight-stealers an ophthalmologist can identify in an exam include:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
But as a senior you may experience other eyesight issues beyond these well known conditions.
For example, even if you can see well and haven’t been diagnosed with an age-related eye disease, you may have other vision changes that can make it harder to navigate daily life such as:
- Loss of contrast sensitivity – This is when it gradually becomes harder and harder to distinguish an object from the background when they are the same color or close to the same color. It may be hard to see something like a white coffee cup on a white tablecloth. This condition can raise the risk of falling and getting into a car accident.
- Trouble adjusting to changes in lighting – You may find your eyes start to take more time than usual to adjust and focus when you go from a well-lit environment to a darker one – or the other way around like coming out of bright sunlight into a low light restaurant. This can make you unsteady on your feet. Mention any problems with adjusting to lighting conditions to your ophthalmologist and give yourself a few extra minutes to orient yourself before you transition between darker and lighter environments.
- Dry eyes – As we age, our eyes produce fewer tears causing dryness. Dry eyes can cause redness, a feeling of stinging or grittiness, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. If left untreated it can lead to vision loss. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms your ophthalmologist can suggest over-the-counter eye drops or prescribe something stronger.
Getting an annual August eye exam is an easy way to protect your vision, stay safe, and continue to enjoy the wonders of the world and all the pleasures of living in it.
MorningStar Senior Living
If your loved one lives far from family and friends, it could be time to move into a senior living community near their adult children where they’ll have the companionship of fellow seniors and a compassionate service team. At MorningStar Senior Living, a 24/7 team is dedicated to offering care and hospitality services that meet each resident’s social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. We offer month-to-month rent with levels of care if needed. Curious? Contact us to learn more.
