An Eye Care Guide for Elderly and Senior Citizens

Eye care for senior citizens and elderly people is no longer a secret. As we age, tour vision becomes weakened whether it is due to lifestyle or genetic reasons. Elderly people with a lack of proper vision may find it difficult to conduct day-to-day activities. The truth is that mere aging does not always lead to weak vision; it may also result due to an injury or a disease in the eyes.

Apart from leading healthy lifestyles, elderly people must visit an optometrist in regular intervals to get the eyes checked. Older people must have access to regular eye care services to ensure that they have healthy vision in the long term. Just as the other body parts tend to age with time, the eyes are no exception.

Reasons to take care of the eyes for elderly people

Although deficiencies in the vision can occur at any age, they become more prevalent with aging. Moreover, people with hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases have more risks of developing eye diseases. Poor vision often limits mobility and degrades the quality of life on the whole. So, eye care tips for elderly persons can safeguard their physical health and helps them lead a more fulfilling life.

Take a look at this comprehensive guide to get a glimpse of eye health tips for seniors:

• Wear appropriate glasses

If you an elderly person and is farsighted or nearsighted, choosing appropriate lenses and glasses is essential. Compromising on that may mean that you are neglecting roper eye care, which may eventually result in headache, discomfort in the eyes, and unnecessary stain. The glasses you wear must bear the correct strength.  For people with presbyopia, one may use bifocal or progressive lenses, especially during activities like reading and watching television. Overall, every elderly person needs to abide by the prescription issued by the eye care specialist.

• Conduct regular eye examinations

The significance of eye checkup is one of the most important aspects, although many times, people tend to take it causally. If you are an elderly person and have crossed 65 years, go to an optometrist for eye examinations.

That way, the specialist can offer insights into your eye health and also reveal whether you have diseases like hypertension or diabetes. Some of the common age-related eye problems that usually develop with age are:

1. Cataract leading to loss of vision gradually when the natural eye les become clouded.
2. Macular degeneration that may lead to significant changes in the retina
3. Glaucoma which damages the optic nerve seriously due to higher eye pressure
4. Presbyopia in which people lose their ability to focus on the objects nearby

• Checking the levels of glucose, hypertension and cholesterol

Diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels are not only related to the development of cardiovascular diseases; they may also result in vision loss due to abrupt and adverse changes in the blood vessels present within the eyes. These systemic diseases may block eye vessels and cause hemorrhages, which in turn results in loss of vision.

• Restrict UV exposure

The elderly people must stay away from UV rays for healthy vision. So, if you often take those afternoon walks for your body to absorb the goodness of sunshine, make sure you also think about safeguarding your eyes. Taking regular walks in the sunshine for prolonged periods may increase UV exposure and deteriorate the eyesight. Even if you are taking a walk, try to avoid looking at the sun with naked eyes as it may increase exposure to UV rays and may lead to age-related disorders.

• Limit screen-time

Yes, it’s true that old people tend to engage themselves with mobile devices and television more often as the activities become restricted with age. However, excessive screen time may strain the eyes excessively and cause dryness. You need to take frequent breaks when looking at the screen. The more rest your eyes get the better it is for them to stay healthy in the long run.

• Eating nutritious food

Among the eye care tips that aged people must follow, a prominent one is eating balanced diet. Unless you have restrictions related to any food item, it is necessary to stick to a balanced diet for healthy vision. Foods rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants are beneficial to the eyes. Some of these vegetables like sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, and squash are truly beneficial for the eyes.

• Read under adequate light conditions

Elderly people with poor eyesight may also have limited mobility. So, they may read continuously under limited light conditions. The family must stay careful during such situations and ensure that the room is well-lit when an elderly person is reading. Whether it is when watching television or reading a book, availability of light prevents eye strain and maintains healthy eyesight.

• Exercises

You may wonder what exercises have got to do with healthy eyesight but simple and day to activities like walking and light exercises leads to improved flow of blood across the body and also your eyes. All kinds of exercises are beneficial for the eyes and helps prevent diseases with aging.

• Restrict smoking

If you thought smoking is bad for lungs and enhances the chances of developing cardiovascular disorders think again. When you smoke, the eyes also become exposed to the toxins. So, if you want to keep your eyesight healthy, you must leave smoking altogether.

When it comes to eye health tips for seniors, the abovementioned tips can help maintain healthy eyes. Remember that the eyesight tends to deteriorate with age just like the other organs within the body. At Malaya Optical, we have qualified optometrists conducting eye care examinations regularly. Get in touch with us for essential eye care tips and improve your vision with proper care.