Aging brings about physical changes to our bodies, and our eyes are no exception. Senior eye care is crucial in maintaining your independence and lifestyle during the golden years. In this article, we delve into the importance of vision care for seniors, common eye problems in the elderly, and little-known tips for effective senior eye care.
Importance of vision care for seniors
Vision care for seniors is necessary for overall health and wellbeing, playing a significant role in maintaining your independence as you age.
Here are some ways in which poor eyesight can affect your life:
- Reduced independence: Impaired vision can limit the ability to perform daily tasks like reading, cooking, or navigating unfamiliar places, often leading to a loss of independence and freedom.
- Dependence on others: Deteriorating eye health may make you more dependent on others for assistance, potentially straining relationships with family and caregivers if not managed effectively.
- Increased risk of accidents: Poor eyesight contributes to a higher risk of falls, as difficulty perceiving obstacles or uneven surfaces can cause trips and slips, resulting in serious injuries.
- Social isolation: Vision issues may lead to social withdrawal. Many individuals with aging eye health avoid social gatherings, fearing embarrassment or discomfort. This loss of social engagement severely impacts mental health and quality of life.
- Cognitive decline: Visual impairment has been linked to cognitive decline. Difficulty processing visual information can change the brain’s function, affecting memory, concentration, and mental acuity.
- Medication issues: Aging eye health can make it challenging to read prescription labels, increasing the risk of medication errors that adversely affect health. Learn more about medication adherence here.
- Financial challenges: Managing finances becomes daunting when eyesight is compromised. Misreading one or two numbers can lead to serious financial and budgeting mistakes.
- Loss of fun: Senior eye care is fundamental to sustaining your daily activities and enjoyments. Visual limitations hinder participation in hobbies and leisure activities, like reading, gardening, watching TV, traveling, and more.
- Impact on safety: Poor eyesight affects the ability to see environmental dangers, like oncoming traffic, potential threats, or safety hazards in the home. If you or your loved one is struggling with vision issues, it might be time to consider finding alternative transportation options.
- Emotional wellbeing: Overall, struggling with aging eye health can take an emotional toll, leading to frustration, anxiety, stress, and depression. Poor mental health factors have been linked to lowered physical health markers, like a weaker immune system.
Common aging eye health disorders
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness. It’s usually related to pressure buildup in the eye that damages the optic nerve, but other causes include injury, infection, blood vessel blockage, inflammatory disorders, or corrective eye surgery. Most people with glaucoma don’t show symptoms, so regular eye checkups and early detection are critical to prevent glaucoma.
Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the most common aging eye health concerns, affecting more than 24.4 million Americans over the age of 40. Cataracts are cloudy spots on the lens of the eye, leading to blurry vision. Cataract surgery is considered safe; a doctor removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new, plastic lens. While aging is a primary cause of cataracts, wearing sunglasses and reducing UV exposure can help lower the risk.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when there is a loss of.nerve cells in the eye, which can cause blurred or distorted vision. While AMD can’t be cured, studies show that good nutrition and vitamin supplements can help prevent macular degeneration and slow its progression.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia – losing the ability to see close objects or small print – is a normal part of aging that happens slowly over many years. This occurs when struggling to see objects close up or getting headaches or tired eyes while doing close work. Reading glasses are the most common solution for presbyopia.
Floaters and flashers
Floaters –specks in your field of vision – and flashers – brief flashes of light – are a common part of aging. You’re more likely to notice these when in well-lit rooms or outdoors on a bright day. Although common, they can sometimes indicate more serious eye or health problems. It’s important to chat with your doctor about floaters and flashers, especially if they’ve increased or worsened recently.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes can be caused by various factors, including autoimmune conditions, dehydration, and malfunctioning tear ducts. Dry eyes cause uncomfortable itching and burning, and, in some cases, even vision loss. To treat and prevent dry eyes, drink more water, use artificial teardrops, and add a humidifier to your home. Sometimes, surgery is necessary for severe dry eyes.
Tearing and watery eyes
Too many tears can be caused by sensitivity to light, wind, or temperature changes, but this condition could also indicate a serious problem like an eye infection or blocked tear duct. Some people with dry eyes will also experience excessive tearing during treatment. Tears are an essential aspect of vision care for seniors, but you should talk to your doctor if you notice your eyes are frequently or uncomfortably watering.
Conjunctivitis and infection
Conjunctivitis, aka “pink eye,” can occur at any age, but it becomes more common in seniors with dry eyes and aging eye health. This infection causes redness, itching, burning, tearing, or feeling that something is in the eye. It can be caused by infections, chemicals, irritants, and allergies, and it’s very contagious, so it’s often spread quickly in assisted living centers. Proper senior eye care hygiene practices can help prevent infection, but if you have pink eye already, you need to see a doctor to ensure the infection doesn’t worsen or spread.
Diabetes-related retinopathy
The eyes are particularly vulnerable for those with diabetes. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy occur when small blood vessels stop supplying blood to the retina. There may be no symptoms at first, but as retinopathy progresses, it may cause blurred vision, floaters, or blind spots. With further progression, it can cause eye bleeding that leads to vision loss or blindness. Senior eye care should be a top priority for those managing diabetes to help prevent and detect issues early on.
Top tips for senior eye care
Here are our top tips for vision care for seniors that actually help prevent short- and long-term aging eye health concerns.
1. Get regular eye checkups. You should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once annually to detect issues early. Consistent eye exams are the number one way to prevent glaucoma.
2. Wear sunglasses. Get a pair of high-quality sunglasses that block UV rays. Minimizing your eyes’ exposure to sunlight helps prevent damage from prolonged sun exposure. Sun exposure has been linked to a number of aging eye health disorders, so you should add UV-blocking sunglasses to your senior eye care plan.
3. Drink water. Proper hydration is essential for maintaining eye moisture and preventing uncomfortable dryness. Moreover, increasing your water intake isn’t just great for vision care for seniors; it’s also critical for all areas of health and wellness.
4. Add more eye care nutrients. Studies have linked a balanced, nutrient-rich diet to strong aging eye health. Here are some eye-friendly nutrients to include in your senior eye care diet:
- Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining eye cornea health. You can find vitamin A in carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens.
- Zinc helps carry vitamin A from the liver to the retina to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Impaired vision has been linked to zinc deficiency, so prioritize your senior eye care by incorporating more natural dietary sources of zinc, like red meat, oysters, shellfish, nuts, and seeds. You may also want to take zinc supplements if recommended by your doctor.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for proper visual development and retinal function. Studies show that getting enough omega-3s may reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other aging eye health problems. Salmon, tuna, and other cold-water fish are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids for senior eye care, but you can also get them in walnuts or fish oil pills.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that may help protect the eyes from harmful UV rays. Research shows that people who intake lutein and zeaxanthin have a much lower risk of developing cataracts. Dark green, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli are the best sources of these antioxidants, but you can also find them in corn, peas, persimmons, and tangerines.
- Vitamin C is an important part of senior eye care and overall health. Studies indicate vitamin C helps lower the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and visual acuity loss. Get more vitamin C in your diet with citrus fruits, strawberries, grapefruit, papaya, green peppers, and tomatoes.
- Vitamin E helps protect the eyes from free radicals that break down healthy tissue. In combination with the other nutrients on this list, vitamin E is effective in helping to prevent cataracts, AMD, and more. Sunflower seeds, almonds, avocado, mango, wheat germ oil, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and other foods are excellent natural sources of vitamin E.
- Click here for some delicious, healthy snack ideas high in these nutrients.
5. Quit smoking: Smoking is proven to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration and other aging eye health disorders. Quitting smoking can show significant improvements in overall health, so chat with your doctor about options for quitting safely and effectively.
6. Manage chronic conditions: Many health conditions, like diabetes and autoimmune disorders, impact eye health. Thus, vision care for seniors should start with proper management of underlying health conditions, which may include prescription adjustments or lifestyle changes.
7. Exercise regularly: Research shows that people who participate in regular physical activity have a lowered risk for glaucoma and other aging eye health disorders. Anything that boosts your blood circulation will benefit the eyes, so try incorporating chair yoga, strength training, walking, or another cardio-based activity into your daily senior eye care routine.
8. Practice the 20-20-20 rule: To reduce eye strain and aging eye health disorders, it’s recommended to take a break from reading or screens every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This is a great way to give your eyes a break from the television, reading glasses, and other eye tiring activities. This is also a good opportunity to get up, walk around, and stretch your legs to improve overall health.
9. Limit screen brightness at night: Excessive brightness and blue light from television and phone screens contribute to eye strain and vision degeneration. They can also disrupt sleep patterns. Reduce the brightness of your screens, especially at night, or put your screens away entirely to minimize the impact of the light on your eyes and brain before bed.
10. Improve your lighting: Low light strains the eyes and reduces visibility, leading to trips and falls. Call a GoGo Home Professional to install more lighting in your space.
11. Use warm compresses on dry eyes: A warm compress can offer relief if you suffer from dry eyes. Gently place a warm (not hot), damp cloth over closed eyes for a few minutes to soothe discomfort and improve tear production.
12. Blink regularly: Extended periods of screen time, reading, or close-up work reduce your blinking rate, which can lead to dry eye and strain. Remember to blink regularly and frequently to keep your eyes moist.
13. Use eye drops mindfully: Eye drops can be a fantastic way to keep your eyes moist and healthy. However, if you use eye drops, follow the recommended dosage. Overuse can lead to dependence and potential side effects, sometimes even worsening dry eye cases. Consult with your eye care professional for guidance on aging eye health medications.
Need eyedrops right now to fix your dry eye? Call a GoGo operator for quick delivery of medications, eyedrops, and anything else you need from your local pharmacy.
14. Get eyewear specific for your hobbies: If you like to read outside, get reading sunglasses to protect from harmful UV rays. If you like to play squash, get glasses that wrap around the back of your head so they don’t fall off. Buying glasses tailored to your specific vision needs can be a gamechanger in how you see and live.
15. Talk to your doctor about your medications: Some medications may have side effects that affect senior eye care. Be aware of any vision changes and discuss potential concerns with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
16. Reduce stress: Lowering your anxiety and stress is an often overlooked aspect of senior eye care. Stress has been linked to eye strain, which can lead to to aging eye health disorders. Studies show that adrenaline and cortisol put pressure on the eyes, resulting in short-term and long-term blurred vision and vision changes. Lower your stress by doing activities you enjoy, staying social, or meditating. (Check out the benefits of meditation for seniors here.)
17. Use GoGoGrandparent: If you’re dealing with vision changes, GoGoRides can help. GoGoRides is a convenient, reliable, and safe alternative to driving, so you can reach your destination regardless of your health or mobility. For example, GoGo can take you to your ophthalmologist appointments so you can prioritize aging eye health and wellness.
Senior eye care and the importance of aging eye health
Focusing on vision care for seniors helps maintain your independence, lifestyle, and health in the golden years. Proactively addressing and managing your eyecare with regular eye checkups and appropriate lifestyle intervention can mitigate the impact of aging eye health and vision changes.
GoGoGrandparent is an essential extension of your senior eye care plan:
- With GoGoRides, we can take you where you need to go without the stress of driving yourself. Even if you’re dealing with vision changes, you can maintain your independence by catching a ride with one of our vetted drivers.
- With GoGo pharmacy delivery, you can get eyedrops, medications, and other essentials right to your door.
- GoGo home professionals help make your home light, bright, and safe, reducing the risk of trips and falls.
Register with GoGoGrandparent now, and let us help you meet your senior eye care goals.
