Vision care in older citizens over 60

People over 60 years old are quite susceptible to age-related vision problems. For these old individuals, regular eye exams including critical tests for aging eyes are helpful for detecting potential eye diseases. Once an abnormal visual condition is detected, doctors will suggest proper treatments for specific vision problems. For example, advanced cataracts always require a cataract surgery, which replaces the cloudy lens with a healthy artificial lens. In most cases, cloudy or hazy vision can also be rectified after a cataract surgery.

Good indoor lighting is needed by elderly people

Other remedies for low vision in old people involve good lighting. Elderly people over 60 usually need additional illumination while doing most indoor tasks. This can be explained by the structural changes in their pupils. The pupil in old people is smaller than that in youngsters, which prevents enough light from reaching the retina. As a result, vision sharpness is reduced. Extra lighting may be needed by old individuals in some special places. Darker corners at home can be illuminated by installing task lighting underneath kitchen cabinets or above stoves. Other places such as garage, sewing room and office also require additional lighting.

Certain age-related eye diseases often cause vision loss

Some vision losses in older citizens are incurable. In this sense, seniors should pay enough attention to ocular conditions that may lead to different degrees of vision loss. Currently, eye diseases that often cause serious permanent vision loss include glaucoma, advanced macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Vision losses make old guys invulnerably rely on certain low vision devices such as strong magnifying lenses with extra illumination, lens filters and shields, audio tapes, specially adapted computer or TV screens, telescopes and so on.

Untreated eye problems may cause an accident or fall

Unfortunately, the current situation of receiving timely treatments for vision-threatening eye diseases among elderly citizens is disappointing and quite worrying. Statistics show that about one third of diagnosed glaucoma patients just leave this eye disease untreated, which brings a much higher likelihood of encountering motor vehicle collision and fall. Delayed vision correction or treatment in old people may also lead to falls, which may cause severe injuries such as a fracture. Falling and related injuries often force older citizens to stay at nursing homes.

Multifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses can be dangerous

Another potential reason for an accidental fall in seniors is the use multifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses. It is widely claimed that advanced multifocal lenses are able to provide satisfying vision aid at all vision distances. Well, that is basically true and it is the most valuable characteristic of these creative lenses. However, these multifocal lenses also offset certain advantages of traditional single-vision lenses. The most dangerous compromise for seniors is the narrowed field of peripheral vision. This brings a much higher risk to older individuals when they are taking a walk on the street.