Why Are Eye Exams Important?

No matter how good your eye health has been in the past, after the age of 60, it becomes crucial to schedule regular eye exams with an optometrist or ophthalmologist (an eye doctor). Seniors have an increased risk of developing eye diseases that can permanently affect their vision. Regular exams are the best way to catch these diseases early, making treatment easier.

In fact, many eye diseases will develop slowly over time, may not have any early symptoms, and you may not even notice changes to your vision right away!

For this reason, you must talk to a doctor if you or your loved one has experienced any changes in your vision. Seniors should also know a few of the most common eye diseases, such as:

• Dry eye is a condition in which a person produces too few or poor-quality tears. Tears maintain the health of the front surface of the eye and provide clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic condition, particularly in older adults.
• Cataracts are cloudy or opaque areas in the usually transparent lens of the eye. Depending upon their size and location, they can interfere with normal vision. Typically, cataracts develop in both eyes, although one may be more severe than the other. Cataracts can cause blurry vision, decreased contrast sensitivity, dulling of colors, and increased sensitivity to glare.
• Retinal detachment is a tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue, and most often occurs spontaneously due to changes to the gel-like vitreous fluid that fills the back of the eye. Other causes include trauma to the eye or head, health problems like advanced diabetes, and inflammatory eye disorders. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss.

What Else Is There To Know?

Now that you’ve scheduled your exam, what does that mean? Well, your doctor will test your visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, eye alignment, and eye movement. They may also use special drops to dilate your pupils, allowing them to examine the inside of your eye.

Tip: Bring a pair of sunglasses if you know your pupils will be dilated, as you may be sensitive to light for a few hours afterwards!

Your doctor may be able to see other health conditions as well, including:

• High cholesterol: The cornea may have a yellowish appearance or a yellow ring around it, which can be a sign of high cholesterol. There may also be plaques in the blood vessels of the retina, which could indicate elevated cholesterol.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Most eye tics are benign, but can also be an early indicator of neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Your eye specialist can help with early diagnoses by checking for anomalies in your retina and optic nerve.
• Thyroid disease: One of the signs of thyroid disease is bulging eyes or protruding eyeballs. This condition is also known as Graves' Disease.
• Diabetes: Diabetes affects the small capillaries in the eye’s retina. These blood vessels may leak blood or a yellowish fluid, which can be detected during an eye exam. If your eye specialist notices this, you may have a condition called diabetic retinopathy.
• Hypertension: Blood vessels in the eye may exhibit bends, kinks, or tears, which may indicate high blood pressure, a known risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other illnesses, including blindness.

If you’d like to learn more about how eye exams are a crucial part of seniors’ healthcare, how Comfort Keepers® caregivers can help your loved one with vision difficulties, or if you’d like to schedule your free consultation, contact us online anytime or call us at (703) 591-7117.